The War between Britain and France

　　In the late eighteenth century, battles raged in almost every corner of

　　Europe, as well as in the Middle East, South Africa, the West Indies, and

　　Latin America. In reality, however, there was only one major war during

　　this time, the war between Britain and France. All other battles were

　　ancillary to this larger conflict, and were often at least partially

　　related to its antagonists' goals and strategies. France sought total

　　domination of Europe. This goal was obstructed by British independence and

　　Britain's efforts throughout the continent to thwart Napoleon; through

　　treaties, Britain built coalitions (not dissimilar in concept to

　　today's NATO) guaranteeing British participation in all major European

　　conflicts. These two antagonists were poorly matched, insofar as they had

　　very unequal strengths: France was predominant on land, Britain at sea. The

　　French knew that, short of defeating the British navy, their only hope

　　of victory was to close all the ports of Europe to British ships.

　　Accordingly, France set out to overcome Britain by extending its military

　　domination from Moscow to Lisbon, from Jutland to Calabria. All of this

　　entailed tremendous risk, because France did not have the military

　　resources to control this much territory and still protect itself and maintain order at home.

　　French strategists calculated that a navy of 150 ships would provide the

　　force necessary to defeat the British navy. Such a force would give France

　　a three-to-two advantage over Britain. This advantage was deemed necessary

　　because of Britain's superior sea skills and technology, and also because

　　Britain would be fighting a defensive war, allowing it to win with fewer

　　forces. Napoleon never lost sight of his goal, because Britain represented the last substantial

　　impediment to his control of Europe. As his force neared that goal,

　　Napoleon grew increasingly impatient and began planning an immediate attack.