peninsular war Flashcards
what dates
1808 - 1814
Why did Napoleon occupy Spain in 1808?
Napoleon occupied Spain to enforce the Continental Blockade uniformly and cut off British trade.
Why did Napoleon invade Portugal, and what happened to its capital in 1807?
Portugal refused to enforce the blockade, leading Napoleon to send troops through Spain to invade Portugal, capturing Lisbon in 1807.
Who did Napoleon install as King of Spain in 1808, and how did the Spanish react?
Napoleon deposed the Spanish king, replaced him with his brother Joseph, and sent Marshal Murat to enforce rule.
How did the Spanish resist French occupation during the Peninsular War?
Spanish patriots, supported by clergy and nobility, formed Juntas to organize guerrilla resistance against French rule.
britain’s role
british support for spain - role of wellington - wellington perceptive strategies enabled the peninsular war to hold down 300,000 french troops + drained the french empire of resources (britain a formidable opponents of the french)
–> britain sent a small force under Wellington, who, with guerrilla support, expelled French troops from Portugal in 1808.
What victories did Wellington achieve after going on the offensive in 1812?
After French defeats in Russia, Wellington captured Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Madrid, and liberated northern Spain by 1813.
Why was the Peninsular War called the ‘Spanish Ulcer’?
The drawn-out war demoralized the French, killed half their soldiers, and damaged Napoleon’s reputation of invincibility.
How did the Peninsular War affect British trade and the Continental Blockade?
The blockade’s failure boosted British exports from £38 million in 1808 to £48 million by 1810, while hurting the French economy.
