Napoleonic Wars c1793-1815

• Continuation of the French revolutionary wars
• Napoleon seized power in 1799
• Overthrew the French revolutionary government
• Napoleon defeated at Waterloo and a coalition victory was reached
• Causes reform in Europe
• Government had to uphold Britain, Pitt’s government was seen as weak and called for the later reforms
• Social impacts

1. Increase in patriotism at Waterloo
2. Working class suffering hardships due to high taxes and low wages
3. Couldn’t afford necessities
4. Blamed government for the poor efforts with handling the war
5. Radicalisation in lower classes- Luddites

• Political impacts:

6. Government weak, huge amount of pressure to uphold pride and stability
7. 800,00o British troop ready to fight
8. Pitt had to step down due to illness and Henry Addington became PM, who reintroduced income tax as a war time measure
9. Addington widely denounced and Pitt re-elected May 1804, but was widely known as a bad wartime minister
10. Most MPs disliked, when Pitt died in 06 Lord Grenville took over but was still weak
11. All governments couldn’t handle the pressure of war and failed to have good wartime strategies

• Economic:

12. Trade prevented by napoleon, no imports or exports to tackle the debt
13. Increase in national debt- 1815 £867 million, sinking fund in place
14. Government called for income take to be raised in 1815
15. More money to be spent on war efforts
16. Due to isolation without trade wartime industries flourish and industrialisation continued