Continental Plan

The Continental Plan was the strategy of economic warfare used by French Emperor Napoleon against the British. This plan used threats and intimidation to gain support from other European countries, yet it still ended in failure.

Background

After Napoleon had conquered most of Europe, he turned his attention to the island nation of Great Britain. Britain was the major power in Europe. Napoleon was never able to launch a successful invasion. So, because a military victory was impossible, Napoleon turned to using economic warfare.

The Plan

Napoleon's plan to defeat Britain was to destroy their ability to trade. As an island nation, trade was the most vital lifeline. Napoleon believed that if he could isolate Britain economically, he would be able to invade the nation after the economic collapse. Napoleon decreed that all commerce ships wishing to do business in Europe must first stop at a French port in order to ensure that there could be no trade with Britain. He also ordered all European nations and French allies to stop trading with Britain, and he threatened Russia with an invasion if they did not comply as well.

Failure

The main flaw in the Continental Plan was that Britain still had naval dominance. The British were able to counter the plan by threatening to sink any ship that did not come to a British port or chose to comply with France. This double threat created a difficult time for neutral nations like the United States of America, who eventually passed legislation to address this matter (see Macon's Bill No. 2). In the long run, the Continental Plan damaged France's economy while having little influence on Britain. Also, the Russians stopped complying, and soon Britain had resumed trade and was able to defeat Napoleon.