challenges to the empire Flashcards
what was the Berlin decree?when?
1806: forbade all states under French control from buying British goods and blockaded british goods
how did the British respond to the Berlin decree?
1807: responded with ‘orders in council’, which meant Britain would not buy any good from France, its allies or neutral countries that obeyed French blockade. the navy would also blockade ports of France and allies.
what was the Milan decree? when?
Dec 1807: authorised French warships to capture neutral ships from sailing to british ports or occupied british country
what were the negative effects of the continental blockade by 1808?
tea, coffee, sugar and tobacco became unobtainable or expensive, this had provoked uprisings. most unpopular policy of napoleons
the strains of maintaining the system proved difficult, which Portugal refused to obey, making NBs entry into spain more difficult in 1808
how did French-spanish relations sour in 1808?
Charles IV switched alliances, then Napoleon attempted a coup in 1808 by Charles’s son backed by 100,000 French troops who entered Spain and forced abdication of Charles and then his son
who were the Spanish divided among?
those who welcomed French rule and enlightenment, the clerics who regard the French as godless and large numbers of catholics who were hostile to French
who did Napoleon impose as king of Spain?
1808: Napoleon put his brother Joseph as king of spain
Napoleon later placed himself in command of Spain and entered Madrid with French troops
what was Napoleons tactic in peninsular war?
NBs strategy to use overwhelming numbers to attack Spanish rebels, but found living of land difficult in difficult terrain. turned into guerrilla warfare
why was Napoleon forced to leave spain?
1809: forced to leave Spain in order to deal with Austrians
how did the Austrian campaign end?
ended in success but losses were huge and battles less easily won. this is as
Napoleon had been over confident and less well prepared
the French army contained fewer veterans and more recruits
austria had new tactics
the Spanish campaign had diverted troops
what was the outcome of the Russian campaign?
the French evtually withdrew as Moscow was burned to the goring by Russian forces and frostbite began to take French troops. as French withdrew starvation and frostbite proved challenging. only 10,000 men returned and only 1000 fit for service
how long did it take after Russian campaign to build up army?
3 months after Russian campaign Napoleon had gained 250,000 troops
when did the empire fall apart?
in the last months of 1813 and into 1814 the british army pushed its way into France.
the allies entered Paris on 30 march 1814 and persuaded napoleon to accept terms of treaty of Fontainebleau
what was the treaty of chaumont? when?
march 1814: allies agreed to preserve their coalition until Napoleon had been defeated
what was the treaty of Fontainebleau? when?
1814: Napoleon made to give up throne, but allowed two keep title of emperor and income of £200,000 and exiled to Elba
