1. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

2. Big Idea
Napoleon’s conquests aroused nationalistic feelings across Europe and contributed to his downfall.

3. Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes
3 Disastrous Mistakes
1. The Continental System (Blockade)
2. The Peninsular War
3. The Invasion of Russia

4. The Continental System
Napoleon ordered a blockade of Britain from mainland Europe
Goals: Make Europe more self-sufficient and Crush British Trade
Blockade
A forcible closing of ports

5. Napoleon’s Empire

6. The Continental System Breaks Down
Blockade was a disaster
British were still able to trade through smugglers
British set up their own blockade of Europe which was more effective
This British blockade led to the War of 1812

7. The Blockades

8. The Peninsular War
Portugal did not want to take part in Continental System
Napoleon sent troops through Spain to attack Portugal
The Spanish protested these actions
In response, Napoleon placed his brother Joseph on the throne

9. Guerilla Warfare
Fearing the Catholic Church would decline under the new leadership, the Spaniards fought back
Resorted to guerilla warfare against the French
Small scale attacks (Hit and Run attacks)
Armies were made up of Spanish peasants (not regular soldiers)
War drained French resources and morale

10. The Invasion of Russia
By 1812, France and Russia disagreed about issues over British trade and Poland
420,000 French troops invaded Russia in 1812
Russians employed a scorched-earth policy

11. Scorched-Earth Policy
When a retreating army burns grain fields and slaughters livestock
Leaves nothing for invading army
Goal is to make them starve and retreat
Russians even burned “holy city” of Moscow rather than let the French have it

12. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia

13. French Retreat Stayed in Moscow for about a month
Retreated in October through the deadly Russian winter
Russians now used guerilla tactics
French Grand Army reduced to 10,000 soldiers
Most died from hunger, disease, and exposure

14. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia

15. The Battle of Leipzig October 1813
Napoleon faced off against the allied armies of Europe
Was easily defeated by the alliance and forced to give up his throne
Exiled to tiny island of Elba

16. Napoleon’s First Exile

17. The Hundred Days
Napoleon escaped from his captivity and returned to France
Met with joyous crowds due to the unpopularity of King Louis XVIII
Was able to reform another army

18. The Battle of Waterloo
Another alliance of European powers sought to stop Napoleon’s momentum
The alliance was able to gain a significant victory at Waterloo in Belgium
In the aftermath, Napoleon was sent to St. Helena in the South Atlantic where he died

19. Napoleon’s Second Exile

20. The Congress of Vienna

21. Big Idea
After exiling Napoleon, European leaders at the Congress of Vienna tried to restore order and reestablish peace.

22. The Congress of Vienna Goal was to establish a new European order
Wanted to ensure security and stability for the whole continent

23. 3 Goals of Klemens von Metternich
1. Check French aggression by surrounding it with strong nations
2. Restore a balance of power in Europe
3. Wanted to restore royal families to the thrones they held before Napoleon’s actions

24. The Containment of France
Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic united to form Kingdom of the Netherlands
39 German states loosely joined as German Confederation
Switzerland was recognized as an independent nation
Kingdom of Sardinia strengthened with addition of Genoa

25. Balance of Power Did not want to leave France powerless
Thus, they did not exact a great price from the defeated France
France remained a major, but diminished power

26. Idea of Legitimacy Restoring royal families to power
Needed to be recognized as legitimate rulers
Ruling families in France, Spain, several states in Italy and Central Europe came back into power
Thought this would restore order

27. Successes Demonstrated cooperation of an entire continent
European powers were at peace for 40 years

28. Political Changes Beyond Vienna
Victory for conservatives as kings and princes returned to power
A return and strengthening of absolute monarchs

29. Conservative Europe
Holy Alliance: agreement between Prussia and Austria that based their relationship on Christian principles (conservative)
Concerts of Europe: ensured nations would help one another if revolutions broke out in a nation

30. Liberals and Radicals in a Conservative Era
Bided their time to try and undo the conservative era established at Congress of Vienna
Revolutions broke out in the early to mid 1800’s that supported people wanted changes
Revolutions and upheavals in Latin America against royal control supported the influences of the French Revolution

31. Long-Term Legacy Influenced world politics for 100 years
British and Prussian power increased
Promoted spread of nationalism in Italy, Greece, and Germany
Eventually, Europe would be rocked by revolutions