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GCSE History Warfare > 1700-1900 > Flashcards

1700-1900 Flashcards

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1
Q

When did warfare begin to change during this period?

A

1850-1900, this is due to the industrial revolution and the rise of the british empire changed the scale and style of warfare.

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2
Q

What was the composition of the army like from 1700-1850?

A
  • permanent standing army of around 50000 men , more in war times
  • decline of cavalry continued , now only about 20 % of the army
  • artillery continued to form about 5%
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3
Q

How the composition of the armies changed during 1850-1900?

A
  • growth of the british empire meant more soldiers were needed, numbers reached 250000 by 1899
  • governments were more involved in organising the army size and finances , both of which rose dramatically
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4
Q

How specialist and professional were the army in 1700?

A
  • many soldier still pressed into service
  • marched or rode in bright uniform
  • infantry all armed with muskets and bayonets
  • support came from heavy immobile cannons
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5
Q

How specialist and professional were the army in 1900?

A
  • command structure more clearly defined, with specialist regiments and more effective leadership structures
  • wore camouflaged brown or grey uniforms
  • transported to battle in steam ships or trains
  • new weapons such as rifles and machine guns, led to specialised roles within the infantry
  • long distances artillery and light field artillery bombarded the enemy , using different skills
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6
Q

Continuity in cavalry on the battlefield?

A

Roles: still important for reconnaissance and harassing the enemy , through new weapons , such as rifles and machine guns, left them vulnerable
Cavalry: officers determined to keep traditional cavalry forces, seeing change as an attack on privilege -showing the importance of social attitudes.

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7
Q

Continuity in infantry on the battlefield?

A

Roles: infantry still decisive factor in the battle
Tactics: still fought in lines columns and squares. Loading times improved , four deep lines replaced with longer two deep lines , firing a volley every 20 seconds. Still sent to face overwhelming fire power between 1850 and 1900 , generals refused to accept the changing situation, relying on old ideas on how to fight

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8
Q

What musket did the infantry use from 1715 to around 1850?

A

Brown bess musket

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9
Q

What was rhythmic marching?

A

From around 1760, rhythmic marching to the drum helped infantry move and change formation quickly, generals like wellington could use manoeuvring as a tactic

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10
Q

What happened to training during this period?

A

Various efforts were made to improve training, but had little impact due to social attitudes. Officers thought they knew best and that weapons training and tactics were easy , they resented interference . As a result , very little improvement had taken place by 1850

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11
Q

What are rifles?

A

Invented in the 16th century ; from 1850 technological improvements made them more effective and practical

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12
Q

What were miné bullets?

A

Invented in 1847, these small bullets expanded within the barrel , making loading easier

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13
Q

What were conical bullets?

A

More aerodynamic, these increased the range of fire.

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14
Q

What were percussion bullets?

A

Made loading easier and rifles more reliable by ending their reliance on powder and flint

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15
Q

What were breech loading rifles?

A

Make reloading four times quicker than with muskets

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16
Q

What are magazines?

A

Allowed several bullets to be loaded at once

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17
Q

Why were there changes in weaponry?

A

Science, technology and industry

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18
Q

What were light field artillery (field guns)?

A
  • john ‘iron mad’ wilkinson made thinner and lighter cannon barrels.
  • experiments with bronze made cannons even even lighter , with lighter carriages
  • this mean lighter, horse drawn field guns could be used across the battlefield and moved quickly.
  • by 1890 field guns were designed so they recoiled. This made firing quicker and easier.
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19
Q

What is heavy artillery?

A
  • steel cannons were stronger than bronze
  • breech loading cannon reloaded five times faster than previous muzzle loading cannons
  • cannon with rifled barrel increased range from hundreds of metres to 5 km
  • by 1900, percussion shells filled with chemicals that exploded the shell were in use
  • from the 1890s, smokeless powder stopped smoke affecting aim or revealing position
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20
Q

What factors effected change in weaponry?

A
  • spiralling change:when one country improved weaponry , others would race to go one better
  • social attitude: conservatism, fear and cost
  • political attitudes: upheaval of the french revolution made governments uneasy about change
  • industrialisation: improvements in science, technology and industry
  • individuals: wellington resisted change as a threat to his social class; inventors such as Wilkinson
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21
Q

How changes in weaponry effected tactics and formations?

A

At the battle of waterloo , 1815, the british infantry formed squares tor repel the enemy. By the crimean war, 1853-56, the musket had been replaced by percussion rifles. Its increased range and accuracy meant a new defence was needed

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22
Q

How did trench warfare develop during this period?

A

In the Crimean war, systems of trenches gave protection against the enemy fire. Troops and supplies could move near to the front line without being exposed. Defending forces chose the protection of the trench over mobility . The power of defensive fire was greater than that of an attacking force

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23
Q

What were machine guns?

A

Small cannon like guns, called gatling guns , had several small revolving barrels and fired , as many as 150 bullets a minute. Smaller , more practical machine guns like the maxim guns were used by 1880s and could be moved by one man. Machine guns were introduced to the british army in 1889, but had most impact after 1900.

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24
Q

What did changes in transport help armies do?

A

Operate further from home

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25
Q

How steam trains were useful?

A
  • steam railways enabled troops to move 15 times faster than they could on foot
  • supplies could be moved at 20 mph rather than the 10 miles a day in the wagon
  • first military railway was liar by the british after balaclava in the Crimea
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26
Q

How steam ships were useful?

A
  • steamships with screw propellers sailed twice as fast as sailing ships.
  • requisitioned steam shops took less than three weeks to ship men and supplies to the Crimea , where they were used in warfare for the first time.
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27
Q

When were steamships first used in warfare?

A

In the crimean war. Specialised coastal attack craft and new defensive techniques , like iron clad exteriors , were developed.

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28
Q

How science helped the development of warfare?

A
  1. Development of fulminate of mercury provided the explosive that led to percussion bullets
  2. Invention of the chemical nitroglycerine led to the development of the smokless gun powder
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29
Q

Development of old and new technology from 1850-1900?

A

After 1850 new and old technology was used at the same time. Horses were still used alongside new steam trains and ships ; the brown bess musket was used alongside newer rifles

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30
Q

How communication developed ?

A

Electric telegraph had significant impact on communication. Governments and army staff used telegraphs to contact generals on campaign . News paper reporters relied on the telegraph information to write reports.
In 1854, the british started a military telegraph detachment within the royal engineers. They built and operated the first field telegraph: a 2r mile network connected eight telegraph stations across the Crimean battlefield

31
Q

How mass production developed during this period?

A

By the 1850s, metal production had improved making plenty of iron and steel available at low cost cost. The introduction of factory production lines led to the mass production of identical parts. These developments enabled governments to equip the whole army with standardised , reliable weaponry at a fraction of the cost

32
Q

What did john Wilkinson patent in 1774?

A

A more accurate boring method for creating lighting cannon barrels

33
Q

What did henry Bessemer patent in 1856?

A

A method of mass producing steel cheaply, reducing the cost from £60 - £7 per ton

34
Q

What did george armstrong pioneer?

A

The breech loading rifle, used through pout the british army

35
Q

What did Hiram maxim develop in 1884?

A

The maxim machine gun, which used the firing recoil to reload the firing chamber , allowing a belt of 500 bullets to be fired before reloading

36
Q

Recruitment problems for officers and promotion?

A

The quality of officers was unreliable because these commissions were linked to social status rather than merit. High ranks were only given to nobility

37
Q

Recruitment problems in other ranks?

A

These involved short enlistments or life(usually 21 year) incentives included pay, bounties for life service and tavern recruitment

38
Q

Problems with numbers and discipline in the army?

A

Army still found it difficult to recruit enough men . In wartime criminals and debtors were let out of prison if agreed to serve. The quality of recruits was low and officers relied on hard dosciplinary methods to keep control.

39
Q

What were methods of recruitment?

A

Colonels regiments

1757 militia act

40
Q

What were colonels regiments?

A

To avoid unrest, officers were paid to set up and equip new regiments . Regiments were created as cheaply as possible.

41
Q

What was the 1757 militia act?

A

An overhaul of the assize of arms , men aged 18-50 were selected from every parish to serve in the local militia for 5 years. low pay for officers despite high costs of training ,accomodation and uniforms, meant there was little change in social background of officers by 1900

42
Q

What happened to recruitment at the boer war of 1899?

A

Ignored age and physical fitness test to get enough recruits. Many were underfed and physically weak

43
Q

Gladstone and cardwells views on recruitment and training in the army?

A

In 1868, william Gladstone’s government argued for army reform. Gladstone was prepared to pass laws to enforce modernisation. He appointed secretary of state for war, Edward cardwell , who forced through a series of reforms against a strong opposition from the army.

44
Q

How Cardwell helped make the army more professional?

A

1870 army act , professionalising the army , ensuring a constant supply of trained soldiers

45
Q

What did the 1870 army act state?

A
  • lower ranks enlisted for 12 years ; six in the army and six as a reserve
  • reserves were paid a daily rate and retrained each year
  • after 12 years , soldiers could resign or sign up for another 12 years plus a pension
46
Q

How Caldwell improved the regularisation of the army?

A

1871 régularisation of the forces act. Reorganised regiments into regions with local barracks for accomodation

47
Q

What did the 1871 regularisation of forces act state?

A

-every regiment had two linked battalions - one serving at home and one abroad
-each regiments third battalion was made of local militia
Additionally rations were improved and in 1881 branding and flogging were abolished.

48
Q

How training had improved after 1850?

A
  • by 1860s officers came into army via royal military college at sand hurst
  • artillery and engineering officers trained at the woolwich royal military academy from 1741
  • senior department of the RMC trained existing officers
  • in 1871 the sale of commissions ended : promotion depended on merit alone
  • military schools opened at hythe (1853) and shoeburyness (1859) to train weapons instructors
49
Q

How recruitment effected civilians experience of warfare?

A
  • conditions were poor at home and far worse abroad. Army had major problems due to lack of recruits and desertion
  • pay was less than a labourers, and had to pay for soldiers food, accommodation and equipment.
  • 1700-1800 , there was no army barracks for soldiers. As the army grew it disrupted towns and villages and disturbed trade
  • 1757 militia act was deeply resented and provoked riots
50
Q

How requisitioning effected civilians experience of warfare?

A

In 1700 the army relied on requisitioning wagons and animals from civilians for transportation. No transport of their own. Ships were often requisitioned during wartime due to the dost of building them

51
Q

How taxation effected the civilians experience of warfare?

A

Cost of army increased from 1 to 8 million pounds in the mid 18th century. Burden was relatively small as the population grew and the standard of living rose. In wartime taxes rose considerably , the wars against france 1793-1815 cost around £25 million a year

52
Q

How newspaper reporting effected civilians experience of warfare?

A
  • in 1815 times sold 5000 copies a day by 1850 , it sold 40000. National papers were distributed around britain by steam trains.
  • William Howard Russell, of the times, sent short dispatches by telegraph from crimea to london. Took only 5 hours , compared to 20 days by sea. He sent almost daily reports.
  • newspapers sent 300 journalists to boer war. More info reached public , and public interest boost newspaper sales
53
Q

When was the boer war?

A

1899-1902

54
Q

what effected Public attitudes to warfare?

A

Attitudes in society: successes bred jingoism and imperialism, some turned to pacifism
Crimean war: public criticism of leadership in ghe press led to government to resign
Boer war: concerns over quality of recruits due to army performance led to calls for change
The times fund :for sick and wounded soldiers raised £5000 in a week (3 million today)
The press: inspired public to make a contribution donating time or equipment.

55
Q

Development in requisitioning?

A
  • in 1855 the land transport corps was created to provide transport for the army
  • in 1888, the army service corps took on the provisions and transport of military supplies with specially trained recruits
56
Q

When was the battle of waterloo?

A

1815

57
Q

Who fought in the battle of waterloo?

A

British vs french

Napoleon vs Duke of wellington

58
Q

How was the battle of waterloo laid out?

A
  • 20000 cold stream guards hold up 13000 in french diversionary force on the left hand side.
  • british field artillery lay down heavy fire into french flanks
  • french main attack in columns into english guns
59
Q

How many troops did the british and french have?

A

67000 british

70000 french

60
Q

Where did the battle of waterloo take place?

A

In modern day Belgium,included many features that were typical of warfare in this period

61
Q

How the choice and use of the battleground affected the battle?

A

Wellington chose a good defensive position

  • battlefield was good for defence as it was only about three miles across
  • he deployed his men behind a ridge to reduce the damage done by enemy artillery
  • he set up two positions on the flanks of the ridge to interrupt the french attack
  • he concealed field artillery in the village of papelotte on one flank
62
Q

The battle of waterloo, The tactics and battle ?

A
  1. Napoleon attacked with infantry columns , cavalry charges and heavy artillery. The columns were 200 men wide, and could punch through lines , but lacked fire power and were big targets
  2. Wellington used 20 infantry squares each 60 metres across , with muskets and bayonets to hold back the french cavalry . The field artillery and the wounded were protected inside the squares
  3. Wellington then sent in the cavalry and infantry lines, firing devastating volleys
63
Q

The duke of wellingtons role in the battle?

A
  • prepared to defend his position. He needed to avoid being beaten until he was reinforced by the Prussian army
  • used squares for defence , with cannon on the corners and infantry firing in rotation -hard to break
  • switched defence to attack just in time and led his troops into fiercest fighting . Cavalry were deployed behind the advance to discourage desertion
64
Q

Napoleon bonepartes role in the battle?

A
  • suffering from piles and irritable , he was unable to properly assess the battlefield
  • used 33000 men to slow the Prussians , they returned late and exhausted
  • delayed start as believed battlefield was too muddy for cavalry
  • unsuccessful attack on hougoumont tied up a quarter of his infantry
  • late in afternoon he launched another attack when he could have withdrawn
65
Q

When was the battle of balaclava ?

A

1854

66
Q

What was happening at the battle of balaclava?

A

A russian attack on a british held port in the crimea. British fought of the Russians , but needlessly launched a costly cavalry charge

67
Q

How was the battle laid out?

A
  • 2000 russian cavalry charge the red line ; later 3000 russian cavalry encounter the heavy brigade as they advance to support the british infantry.
  • heavy brigade(cavalry)
  • thine red line
68
Q

What did the battle of balaclava show about the cavalry?

A

Its vulnerability when faced with defensive power.

69
Q

How many british and russian troops at the battle of balaclava?

A

3000 british

28500 russian

70
Q

Tactics , weapons and supplies in the battle of balaclava?

A
  • sir colin Campbell and his 93rd highlanders, using the miné rifles, held a defensive position against an attacking force of russian cavalry
  • soldiers, to deep lines in their red tunics formed ‘thin red streak, tipped with steel’, outnumbered four to one
  • devastating volleys drove of cavalry. Heavy brigade moved in and defeated large force of russian cavalry
  • cavalry charge against defence line of infantry armed with latest rifles led to huge loss of life.
71
Q

What did battle of balaclava show about warfare during this period?

A

Power of defence became a central characteristic of warfare in this period.

72
Q

What was the charge of the light brigade?

A
  • Russians later in battle , began to remove allied cannon they captured on ridge
  • lord raglan ordered Lucan to recapture cannon, but ordere were vague and poorly explained , in the confusion lucan thought he was being asked to attack the Russians cannons
  • lucan despite uncertainty, ordered Lord cardigans light brigade to charge.
  • out of 673 men in light brigade, 113 were killed , 134 wounded and most of the horses had to be destroyed , for no gain.
73
Q

What did raglans actions show?

A

The disadvantages of commissions that were brought rather than earned

74
Q

What mistakes did raglan make?

A
  • knew about the build up of russian forces but did not reinforce his defences
  • he was heavily criticised in british press because of shortages of clothes and supplies
  • he delayed attack on sebastapol, giving enemy time to build defences

GCSE History Warfare (5 decks)

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