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Continental system
antony_ceyrat
Created on June 26, 2023
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Transcript
III/ HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM AGAINST BRITAIN DURING THE NAPOLEONIC ERA?
Start
O1
History
activity: debating an historical event
Start
Activity
Instruction
Conclusion
Preparing
1
2
Debating
Instruction
- We are historians invited to a scientific debate about Napoleon's Continental system.
- Each team is composed of 3 or 4 members, depending on how many we are.
- Each team takes part in one of the two following debates, depending on your assigned subject: "Who is responsible for the Continental system?"; "How effective was the Continental system?"
- (Depending on numbers, there might be twice the same debate on each subject).
- In the first hour, prepare 3 arguments to support your thesis with evidence from the documents. Each argument must be 1 minute long.
- In the second hour, debate against another team.
- Speakers are not to be interrupted!
- The chairperson organizes the debate; chosen amongst teams who are not debating; introduces the debate, alternately gives the floor to each team.
- The bell-person: time keeper of the debate; verifies that speakers speak 1 min.
preparation - 45min
Activity
1
Start
debating
Activity
2
Start
Debate 1
Activity
Who is responsible for the Continental system?
Debate 2
Activity
How effective was the Continental system?
Conclusion: HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM AGAINST BRITAIN DURING THE NAPOLEONIC ERA?
Start
Napoleonic expansion
- Napoleon rose to power in 1799.
- Napoleonic France directly annexed territories in the Low Countries and western Germany.
- Satellite kingdoms were set up in other parts of Germany and Italy, in Spain, and in Poland.
- Throughout this period, England feared a French invasion.
- In 1803 Napoleon massed his huge ‘Army of England’ on the shores of Calais, posing a visible threat to southern England.
The Continental system
- Continental System: blockade designed by Napoleon to paralyze Great Britain through the destruction of British commerce.
- According to Napoleon “England was a nation of Shopkeepers”. If trade with Europe stopped, industries ruined; will have to make peace with France.
- Battle between Land power and Sea power: by 1806, Napoleon dominant in Europe; after the battle of Trafalgar 1805, England Master of the seas.
- "Battle between the Elephant and the Whale".
Debate 1
Correction
Who is responsible for the Continental system?
To what extent is France responsible for the Continental system?
- After the peace of Amiens in 1802, Napoleon refused to sign a trade agreement with Britain and excluded British merchants from territories under French control.
- Napoleon arrested many Englishmen and excluded England from all connexion with the Continent as early as 1803.
- In 1805 Holland adopted anti-British legislation under French pressure.
- The decrees of Berlin (November 21, 1806) and Milan (December 17, 1807) proclaimed a blockade: neutrals and French allies were not to trade with the British.
To what extent is the UK responsible for the Continental system?
- After the peace of Amiens in 1802, the UK declared war on Napoleonic France. The UK held on to Malta instead of handing it back to the order of st John as planned.
- After the war was declared in 1803, England seized French vessels in British ports. Between 1803-04, England blockaded the rivers Elbe and Weser and all Northern French ports.
- In 1806, prior to the Berlin decree, the whole coast from Ostend to the seine was blockaded by England; neutral ships could still trade.
- The British Order in Council of 1807 extended the blockade to all the places where British trade was banned, including countries not at war with Britain.
Debate 2
Correction
How effective was the Continental system?
Why was the Continental system largeley ineffective?
- After the Continental system was put in place, Britain kept trading with Europe with different partners: sharp increase of British shipping with southern Europe (Iberian peninsula: spanish insurgency against French rule in 1808)
- Britain still retained control of ports and islands of strategic importance (Gibraltar, Malta, Heligoland) which they used to replace blockaded Northern European ports.
- Britain could rely on smuggling and corruption to ensure its goods would make their way to continental Europe, especially in Germany.
Why did the Continental system have negative consequences for the UK?
- The Blockade dramatically disrupted trade between Britain and the Continent: in France, along the North-Sea coast and the Baltic.
- Wars meant lower wages or unemployment for many workers (textile industry); problem reinforced by new machinery lowering wages and de-skilling the workforce.
- Contributed to spur the 'Luddite' movement (1811-1816): English textile workers opposed the use of cost-saving machinery by destroying the machines in clandestine raids.
- Aggravated Anglo-US relations: the US accused the British of violating American maritime rights; declared war to the UK in 1812.
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