1700-1900

Question 1

Recruitment and training

Answer 1

Standing army created by 1700 and not much change over next 150 years.
Standard of recruits generally poor
By 1850s big problems with recruitment – the Crimean War exposed major problems, particularly with the quality of officers
Cardwell Reforms made the army more professional –
Conditions also improved (rations improved, flogging ended) and purchase of commission ended so officers were promoted on merit

Question 2

Experience of civilians

Answer 2

Impact on civilians 1700-1900 relatively small compared to experience of the Civil war in the 1600s
Little physical impact of war on civilians 1850-1900
Taxation still a burden that increased in wartime
Increased press coverage made people more aware of war and more politically active (
News of warfare prompted changes in attitudes in society from increased Imperialism/Jingoism in some to pacifism in others

Question 3

*Importance of News reporting

Answer 3

Crimean War: William Russell wrote many reports on Crimea in the Times and Roger Fenton photographed battlefields. Both of these men bought the Crimean War ‘home’, to make people more aware of war.
Press coverage of Boer War 1899-1902 (correspondents, new popular papers like the Daily Mail) further increased the public’s awareness

Question 4

Key Area of change in experience

Answer 4

Attempts made to professionalise the army in Cardwell reforms – end of purchase of commission
Increased news coverage by 1900 brought wars home to people*

Question 5

Key area of continuity in experience

Answer 5

Little physical impact on cvilians throughout the period
Problems with recruitment of high standard of soldiers remained until 1900 (e.g. Boer War)

Question 6

Features of Waterloo 1815

Question 7

Features of Balaclava 1854