​DIG IT

Continental System

 

After being crowned Emperor of France, I came up with an idea. An idea that would shut down the British once and for all. The Continental System. It was simple, you cut off their resouces and you cut them off from their needs.

 

I really had no other options than to try and isolate the British at this point. I was vulnerable to two forces, even if I did not accept it at the time. These forces were Britain and Spain, who were, at the time, rumored to be joining to try and rise up against me. 

 

I talked to all of my allies, and even distant traders of Britain. I told them that they would be more powerful if they helped me to cut off all trade with the British. Of course this wasn't entirely true, but I would have the monopoly on trade in all of Europe, and they would be allies of mine, so I guess indirectly they would have more power. 

 

My plan was up and running by 1805. I still had some other countries to win over, but I could feel Britain slowly losing power. Russia and Austria did not agree with my ideas at first, and attempted to march on my Great French empire. I defeated them handily. Russia retreated to Poland, and we gained more Austrian land than we ever had before. 

 

In my great campaigns of 1805 and 1806 I was able to force the defeated Habsburgs to sign a treaty of peace, that also stated that they would no longer trade with Britain.

 

The dissolving of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and creation of the Confederation of the Rhine, caused fear throughout most of Europe. Many of the countries who were hesitant to my ideas at first, were almost lining up to help me out of fear. I had gained so much power. Finally in 1807 Prussia and Russia agreed to co-operate with my system.

 

The continental was running smoothly. Britain was losing power, and I was gaining it like crazy. Well that is, until I realized that my precious Continental System was hurting me more than it hurt Britain. Total backfire.

 

Trade kept coming into France which was good, but not very much was leaving. This slowed internal trade, and was cause for resentment within my empire. I did not realize how hard it would be to move goods from Eastern to Western Europe. The final blow that caused my Continental System to crumble was when Russia broke their agreement to stop trade with Britain in 1812.