Continental Blockade

Question 1

What was Napoleon’s first act to try and enforce the continental blockade?

Answer 1

• Invaded the Papal states so the pope would enforce it

Question 2

When did Napoleon declare war on Britain and when was the continental blockade decreed?

Answer 2

November 1806 and 1807

Question 3

How was the blockade enforced?

Answer 3

By 1809 there were 27,000 officers spread across French and Allied ports

Question 4

Why did the continental blockade fail?

Answer 4

Inspectors were easily swayed to resist it

Smuggling and forgery became common

1809 300 ships were made neutral to support trade but they all defected to Britain
Many countries depended on Britain for exports

Napoleon himself bought uniforms from the British

Question 5

Positives of the Continental Blockade?

Answer 5

• Trade in hubs such as Paris doubled between 1806-10
• Benefited home industries

Question 6

Negatives of the Continental Blockade?

Answer 6

• Ports of the Atlantic suffered heavily
• Shipbuilding industry declined further depleting Napoleon’s ability for a good Navy
• Many industries reliant on exports suffered/banks collapsed due to changes in investments
• France was militarily weakened due to its approach of enforcing it in other European countries

Question 7

What statistics can be used to describe the financial implications of the Blockade?

Answer 7

In the first 2 years French exports dropped by 27% compared to the British 13%

Exports from Britain dropped from 48.8 million to 32.4 million in a year