Failing to defeat England in straight fight Napoleon thought of a novel method of destroying her commerce and strike her in the heart. He resorted to ‘continental system’ with a view to impose economic blockade against England and prevent import of English goods in other countries of Europe. He issued a number of orders, resolutions, rules and mandates for damaging the British trade. He also took possession of Hanover and Hamburg to check British trade with Northern Germany.
However, the continental system of Napoleon failed to achieve its objectives. It caused so much of difficulty to the European countries that they were not willing to carry out faithfully. Some of the rulers like Jerome Bonaparte of Holland, and Gustaves IV of Sweden felt that the continental system was so much detrimental to their interests that they preferred to leave the throne.
Even the Pope flouted the continental system and permitted the English ships to move freely the waters of his dominions. In fact the continental system did more damage to the countries of Europe than England because their goods could not reach England.
As one writer has observed “the European trade was greatly ruined due to the continental system. In 1810 only one or two sugar mills out of 428 could be seen working in Hamburg. On account of hardships caused to the people of Europe due to continental system they turned against Napoleon.”
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Edwards has rightly observed, “It (the continental system) was a fantastic scheme which transgressed the limits of practical statesmanship. It was based on the fundamental error that Napoleon’s subjects would sacrifice their personal comforts to enable him to crush his hated and invincible enemy, Great Britain, which was economically indispensable to Europe.”