French Rev - the decline and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte Flashcards

Question

# 5 Negative effects of the Continental system

Answer 1

- The system was impossible to enforce: Europe’s coastline is huge! Britain’s navy was far superior and able to run large quantities of shipping through the blockade. It relied on the cooperation of (forcibly made) satellite states and allies. Most of the French navy had been destroyed at Trafalgar (1805). - British trade was never destroyed and their Empire allowed their economy to take the strain, even though they were also funding European armies (e.g. Austria). They also opened up new markets in South America. The loss of British trade damaged many European states so smuggling etc became a necessary risk. Smugglers were often helped by French subjects. Napoleon also undermined his own system. In 1809, he attempted to address smuggling by licencing trade with Britain and destroying contraband. These also provided revenue for France. By 1813 these were so widely issued that the Blockade became insignificant. - France and the continent desperately needed British supplied goods such as coffee, sugar and even coats and shoes. Economic disruption was hugely damaging to France. Demand did not increase and France’s largely pre-industrial (small scale, cottage) state could not cope. Atlantic trading areas and ship building were badly damaged, whilst the linen industries of the north and west were ruined. - Older industries suffered from a lack of capital when they lost overseas profits. Many also saw fit to invest in more secure land ownership rather than commercial enterprises. Several old merchant families and banking houses collapsed due to a general lack of business confidence. - The system generated huge anti-French resentment (high prices, unemployment, shortages) and hatred for the ‘France First’ attitude. This linked with the growth of national resistance movements and nationalisms (e.g. Italy and Germany).

Answer 2

- By 1807 Napoleon was seen as the greatest general of the greatest army of his age and was regarded by many of his enemies as unbeatable. With the Treaty of Tilsit he had made an alliance with Russia that threatened to extend his domination into Asia. He had humiliated Prussia and defeated Austria, so he dominated central Europe. France was better governed and more stable than it had been for many years. Only 7 years later he had lost it all. This booklet covers this period and tries to explain why this happened. - Contributing significantly to this ultimate failure was Napoleon’s repeated failure to defeat Britain. This was exasperating to him as Britain only had a small army, but he could not defeat them at sea and when he tried alternative methods such as economic blockade, he actually hurt France more than he hurt England. - It was also potentially inevitable that the countries he had conquered would begin to desire independence.

Answer 3

The explanation often given for Napoleon’s invasion of the Iberian Peninsula was his need to enforce the Continental System against Britain. However, Napoleon had ambitions not only to dominate Portugal but also Spain, even though Spain had been an ally since 1795. Spain had a Bourbon monarchy (closely related to Louis XVI’s family) and had a rather strained relationship with France. Portugal was a neutral state, although evidently quite pro British. Following Portugal’s refusal to join the Continental Blockade, Napoleon sent an army into Spain with orders to invade Portgual and seize control of its ports. Lisbon was captured on 30 November 1807, but the royal family, court and most of the government evaded capture and fled the country.

Answer 4

About half of all French soldiers who fought in the campaign were lost. * It failed totally in its primary objective, of enforcing the Continetntal Blockade. * Despite overruning Portugal in 1807 Napoleon was unable to ensure that the Blockade was enforced along its coastline. The value of British exports entering Europe through Portguese ports actually doubled between 1808 and 1809.

Answer 5

- In October 1807, Spain agreed to allow French troops to enter Portugal through its territories. In November 1807, French troops under Junot, occupied Lisbon, but more troops entered Spain and in March occupied Madrid. This had little to do with enforcing the blockade against Britain. Divisions within the Bourbon monarchy in Spain made it easy as both warring factions sought Frech help. The idea that Napoleon invaded Iberia to establish an enlightened liberal regime has been discredited. French rule of Portugal in 1807-08 relied on harsh terror, heavy taxation and confiscaation of resources. When Napoleon deposed the ruling family in Spain, he did introduce reforms and a new constitution under which his brother Joseph was to rule, but this was done by force and never properly put into effect. The most likely explanation for the French invasion is that Ibera was conquered in order to provide resources and to fulfil a restless desire for expansion. - The results were a major reason for the eventual fall of Napoleon. His generals were not able to maintain control of Portugal and Spain. His forces often involved in the harsh repression of civilians, lacked the confidence that had supportered their earlier campaigns and desertion was common. The invasion gave Britain a chance of making allies on the European mainland who could be supplied by sea. The nature of the war –guerilla fighting - Combined with strong civilian resistance – meant relentless and continual depradations and deaths causing Napoleon to refer to it as “the Spanish ulcer”.