Britains Role In Defeating Napolean

Question 1

How did Britain use naval blockades and deal with Frances

Answer 1

• After Pitt’s death Br naval vessels were able to stop and search ships carrying goods to naval ports
• 1806/7 Napoleon creates the continental system which was a good idea but Fr never fully controlled Portugal and Spain
• Post Trafalgar Br controlled the seas allowing restriction of Fr trade, supplying troops in peninsula war and controlling the channel

Question 2

How did Britain win the 1808-14 peninsula war

Answer 2

• The war was over Portugal not accepting continental system and over Napoleon imposing his elder brother as king in Spain
• Br has good communication due to long coastlines and when Fr distracted in a war with Austria 1809 Br defeated Fr in Portugal again
• A good defensive strategy in Portugal
• when Napoleon invaded Russia there were weaker troops in Spain too

Question 3

When was Napoleon finally defeated

Answer 3

Wellington led Br forces at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815

*A mixture of Br,German and Belgian forces

Question 4

Russian influence leading to Napoleon defeat

Answer 4

• Br success in Spain did lead to Tsar rejecting continental system
• Links to France invading Russia in 1812 and the end of the war
• The fragile nature of 1807 French-Russian agreement was key