To what extent can To what extent can Napoleon’s downfall Napoleon’s downfall be explained by the be explained by the

impact of the impact of the continental system?continental system?

IntroductionIntroduction

Context of 1807 and 1815Context of 1807 and 1815 Background to Continental SystemBackground to Continental SystemAfter the battle of Trafalgar Napoleon After the battle of Trafalgar Napoleon

realised he could not defeat Britain by sea, realised he could not defeat Britain by sea, therefore he had to find another way he therefore he had to find another way he then introduced the continental system then introduced the continental system and tried to do it economically. His aim and tried to do it economically. His aim was to strike Britain’s trade and wealth. was to strike Britain’s trade and wealth.

Other factorsOther factors End with questionEnd with question

Continental systemContinental system Set up to : Set up to : Forbid France or any of its allies to accept any Forbid France or any of its allies to accept any

goods from Britain.goods from Britain. Confiscate the goods whenever found.Confiscate the goods whenever found. Exclude British from all ports. Exclude British from all ports. This would therefore cut off Britain’s means of This would therefore cut off Britain’s means of

export, while still allowing her to import French export, while still allowing her to import French goods. Napoleon wanted to rob the British of their goods. Napoleon wanted to rob the British of their gold reserves, start a financial crisis and bring his gold reserves, start a financial crisis and bring his enemy to bankruptcy. Napoleon seemed to have enemy to bankruptcy. Napoleon seemed to have bitten more off than he could chew but still bitten more off than he could chew but still appeared unfazed by the situation. appeared unfazed by the situation.

If any country followed Napoleon’s orders Britain would If any country followed Napoleon’s orders Britain would then starve it of other nation’s supplies. then starve it of other nation’s supplies. (BLOCKADE)(BLOCKADE)

This meant that the countries would be starved of all types This meant that the countries would be starved of all types of goods resulting in: rising prices and national hardship. of goods resulting in: rising prices and national hardship.

Hardship would eventually turn people against Napoleon Hardship would eventually turn people against Napoleon because he was the one causing it all. because he was the one causing it all.

Britain would find this easy as there was no French navy to Britain would find this easy as there was no French navy to stop them. Therefore Napoleon decided to take Danish stop them. Therefore Napoleon decided to take Danish navy. navy.

This did not work either. Britain told the Danes to hand over This did not work either. Britain told the Danes to hand over the navy until the end of the war but they refused. Britain the navy until the end of the war but they refused. Britain bombarded Copenhagen and Danish eventually bombarded Copenhagen and Danish eventually surrendered. surrendered.

This meant Britain could carry out orders effectively.This meant Britain could carry out orders effectively. Commerce of Europe began to stifle. Commerce of Europe began to stifle.

But this helps by showing Napoleons weakness to the But this helps by showing Napoleons weakness to the enemies. enemies.

Did not lead to downfallDid not lead to downfall

However this did not bring about the However this did not bring about the downfall of Napoleon yet until downfall of Napoleon yet until another nine years.another nine years.

Slow drain on his power Slow drain on his power Imposition of French system created Imposition of French system created

more resentment across the satellite more resentment across the satellite states states

The Peninsular warThe Peninsular war First country to revolt against system (Portugal)First country to revolt against system (Portugal) Napoleon ‘typically’ collected five French armies on Spanish Napoleon ‘typically’ collected five French armies on Spanish

soil for an advance on Portugal. He succeeded. soil for an advance on Portugal. He succeeded. However, this was not enough and he bullied the Spanish However, this was not enough and he bullied the Spanish

royal family into giving up their throne for his brother royal family into giving up their throne for his brother Joseph. THIS PROVED FATAL!Joseph. THIS PROVED FATAL!

British army could operate now and they were victorious British army could operate now and they were victorious along with the Portuguese at Vimiero in 1808. along with the Portuguese at Vimiero in 1808.

Napoleon came from central Europe to ease situation but Napoleon came from central Europe to ease situation but British staged a desperate hit and run attack into Spain. British staged a desperate hit and run attack into Spain.

This prevented the Emperor from overrunning Portugal.This prevented the Emperor from overrunning Portugal. Napoleon shows his weakness of wanting more and more.Napoleon shows his weakness of wanting more and more. It proves disastrous here.It proves disastrous here. Europe in terrible financial state and there a general Europe in terrible financial state and there a general

negative feeling building up throughout Europe against negative feeling building up throughout Europe against Napoleon, for causing it all.Napoleon, for causing it all.

BRITAIN DEFINITELY ON TOP!BRITAIN DEFINITELY ON TOP!

Did not lead to downfallDid not lead to downfall

Guerilla tactics but not Guerilla tactics but not immediate cause of downfallimmediate cause of downfall

Slow drain of powerSlow drain of power

Russia campaign Russia campaign Lost army 570,000 menLost army 570,000 men Nap invincibility destroyed Tactics Nap invincibility destroyed Tactics

ineffectiveineffective Alliances coming together i.e. Prussia and Alliances coming together i.e. Prussia and

Russia, Britain and Austria Russia, Britain and Austria Did not lead to downfall Did not lead to downfall Still got a large army together Still got a large army together Not final blow Waterloo three years awayNot final blow Waterloo three years away Austria wanted to make peace terms in Austria wanted to make peace terms in

18131813

4th Coalition 4th Coalition Defeat at waterloo at the hands of the Defeat at waterloo at the hands of the

coalitions coalitions Tsar Alexander holy alliance with the Tsar Alexander holy alliance with the

Prussians Prussians Could not defeat Wellington at PW and Could not defeat Wellington at PW and

waterloowaterloo Did not lead to downfallDid not lead to downfall Napoleon was not at his strongest, he was Napoleon was not at his strongest, he was

already weak after P. War and the Russia already weak after P. War and the Russia campaign campaign

Waterloo not whole coalition only half Waterloo not whole coalition only half

Napoleons characterNapoleons character Inexperience Inexperience Did not estimate opposition strengthDid not estimate opposition strength Could not conquer Russia and did not expect coalitions Could not conquer Russia and did not expect coalitions Ambition Ambition Puts himself over people Puts himself over people Wants universal empire- personal gloryWants universal empire- personal glory Wants to be leader of European state Wants to be leader of European state Do to much before consolidating his powerDo to much before consolidating his powerImpatience Impatience Always trying to increase empire Always trying to increase empire No time to do things- so Grande armee ruined No time to do things- so Grande armee ruined Fighting more than one battle at a timeFighting more than one battle at a timeHealth Health StressStress Stomach ulcerStomach ulcer

Conclusion Conclusion 1799 to 1807 Napoleon had nothing 1799 to 1807 Napoleon had nothing

to lose by trying out new tactics such to lose by trying out new tactics such as the c. system which did not bring as the c. system which did not bring about his downfall but showed his about his downfall but showed his over ambitious nature. over ambitious nature.

1807 to 1815 Napoleon had 1807 to 1815 Napoleon had everything to lose as he tried to everything to lose as he tried to increase his empire across Europe increase his empire across Europe which eventually led to his downfall. which eventually led to his downfall.

Conclusion (2)Conclusion (2)

Compare factorsCompare factors Justify most important factor e.g CS most Justify most important factor e.g CS most

important asimportant as- Shows N overreaching/not realising art of Shows N overreaching/not realising art of

the posssiblethe posssible- Led to nationalismLed to nationalism- Led to PW and RussiaLed to PW and Russia- Led to loss of support at homeLed to loss of support at home- No other factor had all these negative No other factor had all these negative

consequences…consequences…