Napoleon’s Empire Collapses Unit 5: The French Revolution (1789 – 1815)

Napoleon’s Costly Errors! Three Reasons for the Collapse of the Empire!

Reason 1: The Continental System 1806 - to blockade European ports to prevent commerce with Great Britain & hurt their economy. Why it Failed It wasn’t tight enough. French Navy was too weak! British Smugglers Some French allies refused to cooperate at times (even his brother Louis of Holland) Britain responded with its own blockade (War of 1812 w/ U.S.)

Reason 2: The Peninsular War 1808 – to get Portugal to comply with Continental System – he invaded them. Spain protested so he put his brother Joseph on the throne. The Spanish were devout Catholics & full of nationalism. They launched a guerilla war, aided by Britain, and Napoleon lost 300,000 troops. The Third of May (1808) by Francisco Goya

Reason 3: The Invasion of Russia June 1812 – Czar Alexander I refused to stop selling grain to Britain even though he was an ally of Napoleon. He led 422,000 men into Russia; they practiced a scorched-earth policy – retreating & destroying all that enemy could use. Napoleon took Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, but the czar burned it. Dec. 1812 –only 10,000 men left Russia. It was a disaster. The Russian winter did him in.

Napoleon’s Downfall Britain, Russia, Prussia, Sweden, & Austria (despite marriage to Marie Louise) declared war on him. He raised another army, but it was poorly trained. It was crushed at Battle of Leipzig, Germany in Oct. 1813 & Allies moved toward Paris. King Frederick William III (Prussia) & Czar Alexander I (Russia) marched through Paris 2 months later. April 1814 -Napoleon was exiled to island of Elba off the Italian coast.

The Hundred Days Louis XVIII (bro. of Louis XVI) took throne & soon fell out of favor with the peasants as he tried to undo land reforms. March 1, 1815 – Napoleon escaped from Elba & returned. He was met by joyous crowds & 1000’s volunteered for his army. Within days he was emperor of France again.

The End! The Battle of Waterloo European allies called up armies to stop him again. June 18, 1815 – Napoleon attacked British & Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, Belgium The British held the field and were reinforced by the Prussians later that day. Two days later Napoleon was defeated and later surrendered himself in Paris to the British. The Hundred Days was over and so was Napoleon. He was exiled to St. Helena. He died in 1821, possibly of stomach cancer.

Exit Slip – Napoleon’s Empire Collapses For 1, 2, and 3, explain how each mistake brought about Napoleon’s downfall. First Mistake: The Continental System? Second Mistake: The Peninsular War? Third Mistake: Invasion of Russia? Where did Napoleon fight and lose his final battle? ___________, Belgium