The decree proclaimed that "the British Isles are declared to be in a state of blockade" and forbade all correspondence or commerce with Great Britain.[3] All British subjects found in the territory of France or its allies were to be arrested as prisoners of war and all British goods or merchandise seized. Any vessel found contravening the decree and landing in a continental port from a port of Britain or its colonies was to be treated as if it were British property and therefore liable to confiscation, along with all of its cargo.[4]
The goal of the so-called Continental System was to force Britain's government to the peace table by starving its people of trade with Europe and thereby wrecking her economy. However, the blockade's effectiveness was difficult to enforce over so vast an area and was generally unpopular among French subjects and allies. Historian Paul Schroeder considers it to have proved an ineffective method of economic warfare.[5]
The Continental System eventually led to economic ruin for France and its allies. Less damage was done to the economy of Britain, which had control of the Atlantic Ocean trade.[6] Other European nations removed themselves from the Continental System, which led in part to the downfall of Napoleon.[7]
The Milan Decree, for the same purpose, was issued the following year.
berlin, decree, issued, berlin, napoleon, november, 1806, after, french, success, against, prussia, battle, jena, which, fall, berlin, decree, issued, response, british, order, council, 1806, which, royal, navy, instituted, blockade, ports, from, brest, elbe, . The Berlin Decree was issued in Berlin by Napoleon on November 21 1806 1 after the French success against Prussia at the Battle of Jena which led to the Fall of Berlin The decree was issued in response to the British Order in Council of 16 May 1806 by which the Royal Navy instituted a blockade of all ports from Brest to the Elbe 2 The decree proclaimed that the British Isles are declared to be in a state of blockade and forbade all correspondence or commerce with Great Britain 3 All British subjects found in the territory of France or its allies were to be arrested as prisoners of war and all British goods or merchandise seized Any vessel found contravening the decree and landing in a continental port from a port of Britain or its colonies was to be treated as if it were British property and therefore liable to confiscation along with all of its cargo 4 The goal of the so called Continental System was to force Britain s government to the peace table by starving its people of trade with Europe and thereby wrecking her economy However the blockade s effectiveness was difficult to enforce over so vast an area and was generally unpopular among French subjects and allies Historian Paul Schroeder considers it to have proved an ineffective method of economic warfare 5 The Continental System eventually led to economic ruin for France and its allies Less damage was done to the economy of Britain which had control of the Atlantic Ocean trade 6 Other European nations removed themselves from the Continental System which led in part to the downfall of Napoleon 7 The Milan Decree for the same purpose was issued the following year References edit Berlin Decree Napoleon Retrieved 2008 02 20 Documents upon the ContinentaI System 1806 Documents upon the ContinentaI System 1806 https www napoleon series org research government diplomatic c permanent dead link continental html Paul W Schroeder The Transformation of European Politics 1763 1848 1994 pp 305 10 Alexander Grab Napoleon and the Transformation of Europe 2003 pp 29 33 Francois Crouzet Wars blockade and economic change in Europe 1792 1815 Journal of Economic History 1964 24 4 pp 567 588 Further reading editCrouzet Francois Wars blockade and economic change in Europe 1792 1815 Journal of Economic History 1964 24 4 pp 567 588 in JSTOR nbsp This article about the period of the Napoleonic Wars 1803 1815 is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Berlin Decree amp oldid 1189557521, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
