Napoleon’s Empire Collapses 7-4
Napoleon’s 3 Mistakes Continental System Peninsular War Invasion of Russia
Continental System Blockade – forcible closing of ports preventing trade Napoleon does this with Britain Doesn’t work
Peninsular War Napoleon sends army through Spain to Portugal – defying Continental System Spain protests – Napoleon makes his brother king 5 yrs Spanish guerrillas fight French Napoleon loses 300,000 men
Invasion of Russia Russia ignores Continental System Alexander I uses scorched-earth policy – burning grain fields and slaughtering livestock leaving nothing to eat Burns Moscow All this and Russian winter (-30 F) decimate French Army
Defeat Napoleon defeated at Leipzig Coalition move toward Paris
Elba Napoleon banished to island of Elbe Put Louis XVIII in power – unpopular Napoleon escapes and retakes power
Hundred Days Napoleon gets army together again – 100 days Defeated at Waterloo, Belgium Banished to St. Helena in South Atlantic