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From 1803 to 1815, Napoleon fought almost continuously against shifting coalitions of European powers. His military genius produced a series of stunning victories that remade the map of Europe, but his inability to defeat Britain and his decision to invade Russia ultimately brought about his downfall. The Continental System — Napoleon's attempt to wage economic warfare against Britain — was central to the strategic logic of the wars and to their eventual failure.
Key Definition: The Continental System was Napoleon's strategy of economic warfare against Britain, implemented through the Berlin Decree (November 1806) and Milan Decree (December 1807), which prohibited European trade with Britain and its colonies.
The Peace of Amiens (March 1802) lasted barely a year. Britain declared war in May 1803, primarily because:
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