Global History 2 RName:

Mr. Scapelliti

The Downfall of Napoleon

Napoleon’s Three Fatal Mistakes…

Napoleon’s Mistake – Describe it. / What was its effect on his empire?
1. The Continental System: In November of 1806, Napoleon set up a blockade to prevent all trade and communication between Great Britain and other European nations. The purpose was to make continental Europe more self-sufficient and destroy Britain’s economy. / While the blockade weakened British trade it did not destroy it. Britain responded with its own blockade. Britain had a stronger navy so they were better able to make the blockade work.
2. Peninsular War- In an effort to get Portugal to accept the Continental System, Napoleon sent an invasion force through Spain. When the Spanish refused to support Napoleon, he replaced the Spanish king with his brother. With the aid of the British, Spanish peasant fighters used guerilla warfareto attack French troops. The Peninsular War lasted six years. / Napoleon lost about 300,000 men during the Peninsular War. This weakened the French Empire. Like the Spanish guerillas, German, Italian and other conquered people turned on France.
3. The Invasion of Russia – After a breakdown of an alliance between France and Russia, Napoleon decided to invade Russia(June 1812). As Napoleonadvanced, Alexander I pulled his troops further into Russia. Along the way the Russians burned grain fields and killed livestock (slaughter-earth policy). After reaching Moscow, Napoleon decided to return to France (October). As snow fell and the temperature dropped the Russians attacked Napoleon’s troops. Many soldiers died from wounds, starvation and exhaustion. / The retreat from Russia devastated Napoleon’s army.
Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria and Sweden all joined forces against him. All the main powers in Europe declared war on France.

Define:

  • Coup d’etat: a sudden seizure of political power in a nation
  • Plebescite : a direct vote in which a country’s people have the opportunity to approve or reject

a proposal

  • Lycee: a government-run public school in France
  • Concordat: a formal agreement – especially one between the pope and a government, dealing the

control of church affairs

  • Napoleonic Code: a comprehensive and uniform system of laws established for France by

Napoleon

  • Battle of Trafalgar: An 1805 naval battle in which Napoleon’s forces were defeated by a British

fleet under the command of Horatio Nelson

  • Blockade: use of troops or ships to prevent commercial traffic from entering or leaving a

city or region

  • Guerilla: a member of a loosely organized fighting force that makes surprise attacks on enemy troops

occupying his or her country

  • Scorched-earth policy: the practice of burning crops and killing livestock during wartime so that

the enemy cannot live off the land

  • Waterloo: Napoleon’s last battle during Hundred Days. Napoleon was defeated by Britain and Prussia

and exiled until his death

  • Hundred Days: the brief period during 1815 when Napoleon made his last bid for power, deposing

French king and again becoming emperor of France