How To Write A Chapter Summary Of Kitchen's Modern Germany
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Chapter One of Kitchen’s Modern Germany discusses Germany under the rule of Napoleon. Napoleon was a conqueror and spent most his time trying to conquer new territories. Under Napoleon the German economy was disrupted. The continental blockade banned imports as well as exports to Britain. This affected Germany because German goods could not be exported to French controlled territories while French goods could freely be imported into Germany. Under Napoleons rule nationalism grew in the German states. The Holy Roman Empire dissolved after the defeat of Austrian and Prussian militaries in the battles of 1806. Prussia stood up to Napoleon with its military reforms. “Prussia could never be liberated without fundamental improvements in the army” . Prussia’s defeat in 1806 showed them that change was needed. Prussia’s military reforms were similar to the French. “These reforms were all based on the liberal and democratic principle of universal military service, which was designed to create a people’s army in contrast to the standing army of the autocratic state” .…show more content… Many privileges were abolished in the Confederation of the Rhine. “Of the 600,000 men in Napoleon’s Grande Armee that marched against Russia in 1812 about one-third were Germans” . Napoleon hugely underestimated the Russians. Russia’s tactics of destroying crops and land played a huge role in killing many of Napoleon’s soldiers. Napoleon would soon find himself defeated and captured at the battle of Waterloo. Napoleon would soon be exiled. After Napoleons defeat France would return to its 1792 frontiers and Germany would have a federal structure put in place. The Confederation of the Rhine collapsed when Napoleon was defeated by Russia. Napoleon was a conqueror which was to be his downfall. Under Napoleons rule nationalism grew in