23.4 Napoleon

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23.4 Napoleons Empire Collapses
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French Empire in 1807

• Included most of Europe, though not Britain
• Other countries
• French Empire - directly ruled by France
  (Netherlands, Tuscany, Papal States, Illyrian
  Provinces)
• Grand Empire - French puppets (Spain, Kingdom of
  Italy, Confederation of the Rhine)
• Allied States - weakened by threat of French
  military invasion (Prussia, Austria, Russia)

3
Napoleons Three Costly Mistakes

• Napoleons ambition got the better of him and led
  him to make three military blunders
• Continental System
• Peninsular War
• Invasion of Russia
• Result? French Empire lasts only until 1812

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Continental System

• After Trafalgar, Napoleon knew could not defeat
  Britain in a naval battle
• Decided upon this policy of economic warfare
  instead
• Closed all ports in the Europe to Britain and
  British goods?a blockade of British ships into
  Empires ports
• Goals of Continental System?
• Make Empire more self-sufficient
• Cripple British trade and force Britain to come
  to terms with France

5
Flaws of Continental System

• British Navy stronger than French Navy
• Enforced its own blockade (a blockade of a
  blockade)
• Britains blockade was more successful
• Smugglers ignored Continental System
• These crippled French economy more than it did
  the British economy

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Drawing of French burning British Goods
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Map of Smugglers Route
Notice where goods originate
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Peninsular War--Causes

• 1808, Portugal ignoring Continental System
• French Army marched through Spain to Portugal
• Spanish riot
• In response, Napoleon removed King Charles IV and
  placed own brother Joseph on throne
• Spanish remained loyal to Charles and fought
  French (1808-1813) to get them out

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Peninsular War--Course

• Spanish knew couldnt defeat French in battle
• Used guerrilla tactics instead
• Ambushes and snipers
• Quickly went into hiding
• English forces, led by Duke of Wellington, aided
  Spanish cause
• Result?
• Napoleon was forced to divert troops, money and
  time to Spain?bled France to death
• Lost 300,000 men
• Could have been used elsewhere (Russia?)

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Goyas Paintings of Peninsular War

• Spanish painter (obviously, anti-French)
• Reveal the Brutality of the Peninsular War
• Both sides committed atrocities (e.g., killing
  innocents)

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3rd of May, 1808
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Disasters of War, 1810-1811
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Invasion of Russia, 1812

• Why?
• Russia not following Continental System
• Both Russia (Czar Alexander I) and France hoping
  to obtain Poland
• Napoleon, ever ambitious, attacks first
• Though never loses battle, campaign disastrous
• Russian scorched-earth policy makes it impossible
  for Napoleons Army to re-supply itself
• Napoleon makes it to Moscow, but is forced to
  retreat in September
• Army left Kovno, Poland with 420,000 men in June,
  returned in December with 28,000
• NEVER GET INVOLVVED IN A LAND WAR IN ASIA!

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Graphic depiction of Invasion of Russia
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Painting depicting French Retreat from Russia
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Political cartoon about a soldier deserting army
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Elba

• Napoleons enemies quickly realize his weakness,
  form 4th Coalition (Britain, Russia, Prussia,
  Austria)
• Thoroughly defeat him at the Battle of Leipzig
  (October 16-19, 1813)
• April 1814, Coalition forces march through Paris
• Napoleon abdicates, banished to Elba

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Where is Elba?
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Napoleon arriving in Elba
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Hundred Days

• Coalition puts Louis XVIII on throne (Louis XVIs
  brother the Count of Provence)
• Napoleon hears rumors that French (especially
  peasants) are afraid that King will undo all
  Revolutions reforms
• Especially land reforms
• On March 1, 1815, he escapes and lands in France
• French rally to him
• Napoleon assemblies army?he knows Coalition will
  fight

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Waterloo, June 18, 1815

• British, Prussian and Austrian armies are heading
  to France
• Napoleon knows cant defeat united army, each
  separately instead
• Attacks British (led by Duke of Wellington) at
  Waterloo (modern Belgium)
• Defeated by both British and Prussian troops

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St. Helena

• This time, British make sure that Napoleon cant
  escape
• Stick him on island in middle of Atlantic Ocean
  with constant guard
• Actually becomes a tourist attraction
• Dies in 1821

23
Where is St. Helena?
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Political Cartoon of Napoleon on St. Helena