first mistake: continental system napoleon sets up a blockade to prevent all trade between europe...
TRANSCRIPT
Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
First mistake: Continental SystemNapoleon sets up a blockade to prevent all
trade between Europe and Great BritainSelf sufficiency
Led to smuggling cargo Britain then stops all ships coming to
countries controlled by NapoleonIndia, African colonies, United States, Canada
Ends up hurting Napoleon more than Britain
Also causes the War of 1812 between the US and Britain
Napoleonic mistakes
Second mistake: Peninsular WarInvades Portugal and SpainNapoleon makes his own brother King of SpainSpanish resist, start guerrilla warfare
Peasant fighters, hid in the hills, not an organized army – but VERY effective
Ended up costing Napoleon 300,000 menStarts to inspire others across Europe to rebel
Napoleonic mistakes
Russia was Napoleon’s ally, but they continued trade with Britain
Napoleon decides to invade in June 1812Sends 420,000 troops into RussiaCzar Alexander of Russia retreats, burning
everything he can (grain fields, livestock)Scorched earth policy – why did they do this?
Battle of Borodino – two armies finally fight a battle, Napoleon wins
March to Moscow – down to 100,000 soldiers
Biggest mistake of all
Napoleon marches into Moscow, only to find it totally ablaze
Alexander destroyed it rather than let the French “win” it
In October Napoleon decides to take his troops back to France
They get caught in the winter, most freeze to death or die from enemy attacks
Only 10,000 make it back alive
Russia
Now Britain has Russia, Prussia and Sweden allied against him
Austria now declares war on FranceNapoleon raises a new armyOctober 1813 defeated at Leipzig
(Germany)January 1814 – allies invade FranceMarch 1814 – King Frederick William of
Prussia and Czar Alexander lead troops in a parade through Paris
Napoleon’s downfall
Napoleon surrenders in April 1814, goes into exile on island of Elba off coast of Italy
Louis XVI’s brother Louis XVIII becomes king, monarchy restored
Started to undo most of the reforms of the revolution
Becomes very unpopular
Exile
Napoleon returns from exileMarches from Elba through Italy and over the
Alps into FranceCrowds cheer him, Louis’s army deserts him
and join NapoleonNapoleon is emperor once againEuropeans quickly get their armies back
together
The Hundred Days
British led by the Duke of Wellington masses troops near Waterloo (in Belgium)
Napoleon attacks, but British defend their ground
Prussian troops arrive to help BritishTwo days later, French troops start to collapseNapoleon surrendersBritish send him to St. Helena, an island in
the South Atlantic and the middle of nowhereHe dies there in 1821
Waterloo
“He was as great a man can be without virtue”
Opened the door for the victorious European powers to establish a new order in Europe
Result of Waterloo