Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

Personality Napoleon’s personality proved to be his greatest danger Napoleon’s personality proved to be his greatest danger Desiring power raised Napoleon to great heights but eventually led to his doom Desiring power raised Napoleon to great heights but eventually led to his doom

Arch Enemy Wanted to crush Great Britain and extend French Empire Wanted to crush Great Britain and extend French Empire In trying to do so, Napoleon made 3 disastrous mistakes In trying to do so, Napoleon made 3 disastrous mistakes

The Continental System Napoleon attempted to prevent all trade and communication between Great Britain and other European Nations Napoleon attempted to prevent all trade and communication between Great Britain and other European Nations Blockade- forcible closing of all ports Blockade- forcible closing of all ports Intended this to destroy Great Britain’s commercial and industrial economy Intended this to destroy Great Britain’s commercial and industrial economy

Continental System System did not work like Napoleon had hoped for. System did not work like Napoleon had hoped for. Other European nations disregarded the blockade and smuggled goods or traded with Great Britain Other European nations disregarded the blockade and smuggled goods or traded with Great Britain Great Britain had the most powerful navy in the world at the time Great Britain had the most powerful navy in the world at the time

The Peninsula War Napoleon upset the Spanish Napoleon upset the Spanish –by sending an invasion force into Spain and Portugal Guerrillas- loosely organized peasant fighting force that makes surprise attacks on the enemy troops occupying his or her country Guerrillas- loosely organized peasant fighting force that makes surprise attacks on the enemy troops occupying his or her country

Peninsula War Caused other countries occupied or controlled by France to exhibit characteristics of nationalism Caused other countries occupied or controlled by France to exhibit characteristics of nationalism Nationalism- loyalty to one’s own country Nationalism- loyalty to one’s own country German’s, Italians, and other conquered people turned against French German’s, Italians, and other conquered people turned against French

The Invasion of Russia upset at Russia for selling grain to Great Britain, Napoleon invaded Russia upset at Russia for selling grain to Great Britain, Napoleon invaded Russia Retreating troops used a scorched earth policy while retreating to Moscow Retreating troops used a scorched earth policy while retreating to Moscow Scorched earth policy- burning grain fields and slaughtering livestock so as to leave nothing for the enemy to eat Scorched earth policy- burning grain fields and slaughtering livestock so as to leave nothing for the enemy to eat

Invasion of Russia French forces took Moscow after Czar Alexander I had their “holy city” burned to the ground French forces took Moscow after Czar Alexander I had their “holy city” burned to the ground Napoleon stayed in Moscow until October Napoleon stayed in Moscow until October French army was decimated on march back to France due to the harsh cold winter weather, hunger, and attacks from Russian raiders French army was decimated on march back to France due to the harsh cold winter weather, hunger, and attacks from Russian raiders See map on p. 236 See map on p. 236

Napoleon’s Defeat Napoleon’s forces were defeated and he surrendered his throne Napoleon’s forces were defeated and he surrendered his throne Exiled to Elba, tiny Island off the Italian coast Exiled to Elba, tiny Island off the Italian coast Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France to joyous crowds and thousands of volunteers entered the army Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France to joyous crowds and thousands of volunteers entered the army

Hundred Days Battle near village of Waterloo Battle near village of Waterloo British and Prussian forces defeated the French forces British and Prussian forces defeated the French forces Ended Napoleon’s last bid for power Ended Napoleon’s last bid for power Napoleon was exiled to the remote island St. Helena in the South Atlantic Napoleon was exiled to the remote island St. Helena in the South Atlantic –Lived in exile for 6 years writing his memoirs –Died of a stomach ailment, possibly cancer in 1821