The campaign of 1812 was more frankly imperialistic than any other of Napoleon's wars; it was more directly dictated by the interests of the French upper class. The basic purposes of the war were to subject Russia to the economic interests of the upper class and to create an eternal threat against her in the shape of a vassal Poland, united with Lithuania and White Russia. Only by resisting this aggregation could Russia preserve her economic and political independence.

Napoleon had tried to conquer England, but was defeated at Trafalgar. The English also succeeded in organizing a new anti-French coalition consisting of Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Naples.

On December 2, 1805, in his greatest victory, Napoleon defeated the combined Austrian and Russian armies in the Battle of Austerlitz. In September 1806 Prussia entered the war against France, and on October 14 the Prussian armies were defeated at Jena and at Auerstadt. The Russians put up a better resistance at Eylau in February 1807 but were routed at Friedland in June.

At this time the French and their allies were maintaining a blockade against England. Russia was not effectively pursuing this blockade, and the French upper class wanted the complete elimination of England from European markets. Napoleon made this his primary excuse for the war.

Some common words found in the essay are:
MI Kutuzov, CaesarWinston Churchhill, Empire Russia, French Austrians, Napoleon Bonaparte, Motherland France, Riehn Napoleon, Erfurt Russian, Battle Waterloo, Moscow Alexander, upper class, patriotic war 1812, russian emperor, napoleon captured, captured sent, russian armies, french upper, england russia, napoleon's empire, french upper class, patriotic war, napoleon captured sent, war 1812,
Approximate Word count = 1002
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)