Financial and economic policies and problems: taxation; the central economy; the impact of war and the Continental System; degree of economic change
Napoleon overhauled France's finances and tried to control European trade. War and his trade blockade against Britain created serious economic problems that his reforms could not fully fix.
Real World
The Continental System mirrors modern economic sanctions: when the US imposed trade embargoes on Iran, neutral countries found workarounds and the sanctioning nation's own exporters suffered — exactly the dynamic that undermined Napoleon's blockade.
Exam Focus
Distinguish between intended and actual outcomes of the Continental System; examiners penalise answers that treat Napoleon's economic policies as straightforwardly successful.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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