Question

What caused the Russian Campaign and how did Napoleon react? a) The Russian Campaign was caused by a dispute over fishing rights in the Baltic Sea: The Russian Campaign was not triggered by a dispute over fishing rights but rather by a complex set of factors, including the issue of Russia's continued trade with Britain and the general dynamics of European politics.

b) Napoleon reacted by negotiating a peaceful resolution with Czar Alexander I: Instead of negotiating a peaceful resolution, Napoleon decided to launch an invasion of Russia with the Grand Army in 1812.
c) Napoleon's Grand Army was composed entirely of loyal and unified French troops: Napoleon's Grand Army consisted of troops from various nationalities and not all of them were French. While some were loyal and unified, the army's composition was diverse, which did pose challenges in terms of loyalty and unity. d) Czar Alexander I refuses to stop selling grain to Britain. Napoleon gets 600000 troops together called the "Grand Arme". A lot of troops are foreign people so they are not loyal and unified.

Answer 1

The Russian Campaign was initiated by Napoleon due to political and trade disputes with Russia. A massive non-French Grand Army faced a Russian scorched-earth strategy, resulting in a disastrous retreat and ultimately Napoleon's abdication and exile.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Russian Campaign was caused by a series of strategic and political tensions between France and Russia. These included disputes over continental trade policies and Russia’s refusal to cease trading with Britain, which was in direct conflict with Napoleon's Continental System designed to weaken the British economy. As tensions escalated, Napoleon assembled a massive force known as the Grand Army, which included many non-French recruits.

The campaign turned disastrous for the French as the Russians employed a scorched-earth policy, retreating and burning their own lands to deny resources to the advancing enemy. With no decisive Russian engagement and a harsh winter approaching, Napoleon was forced to retreat from Moscow. Along the arduous retreat, his forces were decimated by the cold, disease, and relentless Russian attacks. Finally, the coalition forces saw an opportunity and regrouped to forcefully end Napoleon’s rule. All this culminated in Napoleon’s abdication following the overwhelming defeat at the Battle of Leipzig and the invasion of Paris by coalition forces in 1814. Napoleon was exiled to Elba while Louis XVIII was restored to the French throne under the Treaty of Fontainebleau.