c1700 - c1900 - Continuity And change In The Army

Question 1

What was the continuity of composition in c1700-1850?

Answer 1

• permanent standing army of 50000 men
• decline of cavalry continued - now only 20% of army
• artillery continued to form about 5%

Question 2

What was the change in composition in c1850 - c1900?

Answer 2

• growth of british empire meant more soldiers were needed
• governments were more involved in organising the army size and finances, both of which rose dramtically

Question 3

What were the disadvantages of Armies in c1700?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What were the improvements made to the army by c1900?

Answer 4

• command structures more clearly defined, with specialist regiments
• had better leadership structures
• wore camouflaged uniforms
• transported to battle in trains or ships
• new weapons e.g. rifles and machine guns led to specialised roles within the infantry
• long distance artillery and light field artillery bombarded the enemy

Question 5

What was continuity in the roles of cavalry on the battlefield?

Answer 5

• they were still important for harassing the enemy, though new weapons such as rifles left them vulnerable

Question 6

What was continuity in the roles of infantry on the battlefield?

Answer 6

• still the decisive factor in battle
• the ‘brown bess’ musket was used from 1715-1850

Question 7

What was continuity in the tactics of cavalry on the battlefield?

Answer 7

• officers were determined to keep traditional cavalry forces, seeing change as an attack on privilege - showing the importance of social attitudes

Question 8

What was continuity in the tactics of infantry on the battlefield?

Answer 8

• still fought in lines, columns and squares
• loading times improved - four deep lines replaced with longer two-deep lines, firing a volley every 20s

Question 9

What were the negatives of continuity in the tactics of infantry on the battlefield?

Answer 9

• they were still sent to face overwhelming firepower between 1850-1900
• generals refused to accept the changing situation, relying on old ideas about how to fight

Question 10

What were the changes made to infantry from 1760?

Answer 10

From around 1760, rhythmic marching to the drum helped infantry move and change formation quickly. This could be used by generals as a manouvering tactic

Question 11

What was training like in this period

Answer 11

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.