Continental policy

The Continental policy was an economic policy by Napoleon designed to cripple trade between continental Europe and Great Britain. Unfortunately for Napoleon, Britain was capable of sustaining itself through agriculture and industry, and other necessary trade items could be obtained through smuggling off the coast of Europe in areas that Napoleon did not fully control (such as the North Sea and the Adriatic islands). However, it probably limited Britain's ability to fight the War of 1812, until Napoleon was defeated in 1814. The policy also contibuted to Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, as Russia only tacitly supported the policy and in fact helped keep the Baltic Sea open to trade with Britain.

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