The End of An Era

1. The End of An Era Challenges to Napoleon’s Empire Napoleon’s Downfall The Congress of Vienna

2. Challenges to Napoleon’s Empire • Nationalism Backfires on the French Empire • Resistance in Spain creates unrest • War with Austria weakens the Empire • Defeat in Russia spells Disaster for Napoleon’s Army.

3. Nationalism Backfires • French Nationalism was one of the main reasons for their military success. • However, the rest of Europe resented being under French control as well as the Continental System. • Like French Revolutionaries wanted their liberty and Freedom at home, so did other countries want freedom from France.

4. Resistance in Spain • Napoleon replaced the King of Spain with his own brother, Joseph Bonaparte. • Joseph introduced unpopular reforms in Spain, undermining the Spanish Catholic Church. • The Spanish people rose up in resistance and were brutally put down by French forces. • This harsh repression increases Spanish nationalism against the French.

5. War with Austria • Spanish resistance encouraged Austria to resume hostilities against the French. • Austrians attempted to rebel against French control in their country but Napoleons forces, once again, put down the rebellion and gained more territory in Austria. • Again, this will increase Austria’s sense of Nationalism and discontentment with French control.

6. Defeat in Russia • Napoleon’s expanding empire was encroaching on the western border of Russia. • This among other reasons caused the Russian Czar to withdraw his country from the Continental System. • Napoleon responded to the Czar’s action by assembling his Grand Army.

7. Defeat in Russia continued… • In 1812, more than 400,000 soldiers from France and other countries invaded Russia. • Russian’s retreated eastward, burning crops and villages as they went. “Scorched Earth” • As the French pursued them they had no food or shelter because of the “Scorched Earth” policy. • Napoleon entered Moscow in September but realizing that he couldn’t feed his army he turned home in October.

8. Defeat in Russia continued… • By the time Napoleon reached Moscow he had already lost 270,000 troops. • The 1,000 mile retreat from Moscow back to France was more a struggle to survive than anything. • In the end, estimates say somewhere from 10 to 20,000 soldiers survived from the original 400,000. • Napoleon’s defeat in Russia marks the beginning of the end for his conquest in Europe.

9. Napoleon’s Downfall • Napoleon returns to France and abdicates, or steps down from the throne the following year. • He is exiled to Elba, an island in the Mediterranean. • France then recognized Louis XVIII, brother of the executed Louis XVI. He was not successful. • Napoleon escapes from the island and returns to France, where he rallies his troops and runs the King out and retakes the throne as Emperor.

10. Battle of Waterloo • Napoleon’s popularity only lasted 100 days. • British and Prussian armies reassembled during those 100 days met at Waterloo, Belgium on June 18, 1815. • In an all day battle, these armies crushed Napoleon’s French forces. • As a result Napoleon was finally forced to abdicate again, never to return to power.

11. Congress of Vienna • European leaders met for 10 months from September 1814- June 1815. • They redrew the map of Europe in an attempt to contain French ambitions for power. They put strong countries all around France. • As a result of the Congress of Vienna, Europe wouldn’t see war on a Napoleonic scale, until 1914 and World War I.