Modern Era (1900-Present) Flashcards
What weapons were used in 1900?
How did they stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-Improved cannons, BRASS + recoiling barrels and percussion shells by 1900 -Rifles: BRASS, Lee Enfield rifle with improved magazines -Machine guns, Gatling 1860’s and Maxim Gun 1890’s (could fire 500 rounds per minute)
Continuity (1900-Present):
-Cannon, Rifles, Machine guns used extensively during WW1
Change (1900-Present):
-Constant and rapid development in weaponry between 1900-45, this largely due to the 2 World Wars -Tanks, aircraft and motorised transport used very effectively -New bomber aircraft such as stealth bombers, fighter jets, drones have made bombing very accurate and efficient, -Infantry Weapons have improved e.g. automatic rifles with telescoping sights
What were tactics and strategies like in 1900?
How did they stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-Cavalry have become mostly symbolic and practically useless -Power of defence significantly increased -Government changed strategy to accommodate the large army with all necessary provisions -Trench warfare used at the end of Boer War
Continuity (1900-Present):
-Trench Warfare remained -Cavalry deployed at start of WW1
Change (1900-Present):
-Use of Trains to transport masses of troops, gave attack the upper hand, supplies could also be transported this way
-Defence dominated until a stalemate between the offence and defence was formed, eventually tanks, aircraft and motorised transport broke the stalemate and attack has upper hand
-Blitzkrieg absolutely decimated defences by the use of tanks, aircraft, and motorised transport
-Radar, fighter planes, anti aircraft guns improve the defence (stalemate), stalemate is broken by arial bombings during ww1 and 2 -WW1 and WW2 are examples of TOTAL WAR
-Since 1945:
-technological advances changed warfare with: –Nuclear Weapons, High-tech equipment such as satellites and arial support
-Wars are now fought very differently, cyber warfare and Guerrilla warfare dominates
What was the composition and command of armies like in 1900?
How did it stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
Composition:–Infantry 65%, Cavalry 10% (only used for scouting), Artillery 20% armed forces, 5% special forces
Continuity (1900-Present):
-Relatively small army in peacetime -bombarding enemy still key part of warfare -Infantry most likely to confront enemy on the ground
Change (1900-Present):
-Army size grew to the millions -HALDANE’S REFORMS 1908, restructured the army into Regular and territorial force (now army reserve) -Composition: 25% infantry, 10% artillery, 55% specialist troops 10% other e.g. tank crew
What was recruitment like in 1900?
How did it stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-Cardwell reforms made the army more professional by lowering the length of service and reorganising the regiments to make the army more attractive -Conditions were improved (rations improved and flogging ended), purchase system was abolished
Continuity (1900-Present):
-Still reliant on volunteers in WW1 (initially)
Change (1900-Present):
-Conscription introduced from 1916-18, 3.5 million men were conscripted -Conscription introduced again in 1939 which extended to men and women (in supporting roles)
-Conscientious Objectors were imprisoned or forced to a non-fighting role -Conscription narrowed down to national service, all men aged 17-21 had to complete 18 months of military training and serve in the army reserve for 4 years, this ended in 1960 -Women accepted into army in both wars, separate women army corps ended in 1992 - A regular army of about 85,000 exists
What was training like in 1900?
How did it stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-Many more training opportunities for cadets, officers and trainers gave the army a more professional feel by 1900 -Some training given to Boer war recruits was poor
Continuity (1900-Present Day):
-Training of volunteers/conscripts during WW1 was not very effective, many sent to war unprepared for their incoming experience
Change (1900-Present Day):
-Level of training improved significantly -High tech training now implemented and important -Army recruits sign up for at least 4 years with 14 weeks basic training, specialist train for 1 year or more -Officer training lasts 1 year
What were provisions like in 1900?
How did they stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-After awful management of supplies during the Crimean war of 1850’s, changes were made so supplying was made professional and War Office took control of all supplies
Continuity (1900-Present):
-War Office continued to supply the army until 1964
Change (1900-Present):
-System of supplying troops in world wars was very efficient -Improvements in transport and communication made supplying troops more effective -Ministry of defense now supplies overseas
What was the experience of civilians in 1900?
How did it stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-Increased press coverage made civilians more aware of war and the reality of its circumstances, This led to changes in attitudes e.g. pacifism
Continuity (1900-Present):
-Press coverage continued to make people more aware of war
Change (1900-Present):
-More civilians enlisted and killed (700,000 WW1 and 450,000 WW2)
-DORA, Defence of the realm Act gave government power to control peoples lives -Civilians became targets e.g. Blitz bombings,-Limited supplies due to bombing runs, -Evacuation of children -Home guard, Civil Defence (ARP Wardens etc), Women’s voluntary service, -Fear of nuclear war -Women’s position in society improved
What was war reporting like in 1900?
How did they stay the same and change into the Present day?
1900:
-Many more papers emerge leading to increased coverage of wars E.g. Daily Mail covering the Boer War (1899-1902)
Continuity (1900-Present):
-Newspapers continued to report War to keep people informed
Change (1900-Present):
-Censorship introduced, both enforced and self enforced, common in world wars but difficult now in modern warfare -Changes in technology such as satellite links and TV -Embedded Journalists: Live and work among soldiers and report directly from the front line -Attitudes to warfare have changed in society, there is greater awareness of the human and financial costs so there is generally far less support for war
