Warfare and British Society c1250 - Present Flashcards
Army composition 1250 - 1500
Infantry and mounted knights
Mounted knight tactics 1250 - 1500
Mounted charge - charge through enemy lines
Rout and chase - scatter infantry and attack them one by one
Infantry role and tasks 1250 - 1500
Shield wall - withould enemy attacks
Mêlée - hand to hand combat
New weapons and formations 1250 - 1500
Longbow
Pikes
Schiltrons
Cannons
Cannon limitations 1250 - 1500
Heavy and expensive
Innacurate
Short range
Unrealiable
Slow reload
Trained people needed
Advantages and improvements of cannons 1250 - 1500
Useful in sieges
New technology like rods to raise the barrelmade them more accurate
Long distance cannons developed
Metal balla used to improve efficiancy
What caused the decline of the mounted knight c1250 - 1500
Longbow was effective in taking down knights, horses and infantry
Schiltrons could quickly defeat enemy cavalry
Cavalry took different roles (scouting etc)
Change in knight recruitment c1250 - 1500
Assize of arms - tax on wealth, everyone with land had to probvide knights
Mercenaries and scutage - people paid scutage instead of doing military service
Royal household - permenant paid guards of the king
Changes in infantry recruitmant c1250 - 1500
Statute of Winchester - All men 16 - 60 had to muster once a year for 40 days service
Commisioners of array - assesed recruits and weapons accross the country
After 1337, assize of arms and feudal levy fell away in favour of paid service
Changes in provisioning 1250 - 1500
Requisitioning - crown forced merchants to sell goods and ships for baggage trains
Weapons stores - such as royal armoury built up
Supply depots - set up ahead of army and supplied by road or sea
Pillaging
Who won the battle of Falkirk 1298?
English
Who fought in Falkirk
England and Scotland
What was the impact of the longbow at Falkirk?
Very effective at killing unarmoured infantry
Created gaps in scottish pikes and allowed England to attack
Impact of Schiltrons at Falkirk
Welldisciploned and hard to break but the lack of armour made them highly vulnerable towards archers.
Who won the battle of Agincourt 1415?
England
Who fought in Agincourt?
England against France
Why was Henry’s choice of battleground good?
His army was at the end of a funnel
Wet clay was in the middle of the ground. Hard for cavalry charges
Protected flanks
Sharp stakes set in the ground towards the french
Archers used forest as cover for attacks
What was the role of cavalry and archers at Agincourt?
English archers fired directly into French cavalry
French cavalry couldnt retreat because of their own advancing infantry
French cavalry got exhausted
English kights held the centre fighting on foot
What good decisions did Henry V make at Agincourt?
Fought alongside men
Good defensive position
Cavalry fought on foot
Sent archers to gall the french into fighting in bad ground
Changes in army composition c1500-1700
Not much change in composition. Artillery trains slowly increased in importance and field artillery improved.
Changes in battlefield roles c1500 - 1700
Cavalry no longer decisive force in battle.
Infantry became more dominant due to new weapons and tactics.
Change in the role of cavalry 1500 - 1700
Harrased the enemy with pistols
Dragoons took on the role of mounted archer until 1700
Change in the role of infantry 1500 - 1700
Musketeers gradually replaced archers
Pikemen increasingly fought in large squares or columns
Changes in the role of the government 1500 - 1700
Taxes increasingly used to pay for soldiers
Use of mercenaries increased.
What type of army was introduced during the english civil war? 1500 - 1700
Standing army
Why did the musket start replacing the longbow? 1500 - 1700
Muskets could piece high carbon steel and the ammo was cheaper too.
Musketeers could kill pikemen
Number of archers to train reduced. Musketeers were much faster to train.
Effect of the introduction of pistols on armies 1500 - 1700?
Replaced lances of medieval knights.
Made armour redundant with increased firepower.
Why was the flintlock better than the matchlock?
Had no dangerous exposed match and gunpowder
Matchlock was unreliable in the rain
Flintlock undetectable at night
Changes in bayonets 1500 - 1700
1660s - plug bayonet
1705 - pike replaced by socket bayonets. Musketeers became melee combatants.
How did defenses against cannons change c1500 - 1700
Earth filled walls could withstand a cannon blast
Walls were angled so cannons would bounce off
Bations provided locations to return cannon fire
Continuity in training c1500-1700
Tudor system still used (statute of winchestor) - 16 - 60 year olds pressed into serving
Men provided their own weapons and general musters were still held
Lieutenants appointed to command each countys militia
What was the main army systen in 1645?
The new model army
What were the main characteristics of the new model army?
Voluntary service
Paid service (24 pence a day for cavalry, 8 for infantry)
Soldiers could be promoted to command positions
Impact of warfare on civilians before the civil war
Ships were requisitioned for the navy
Requisitioned horses and supplies distrupted businesses and led to shortages
Taxes increased and trade reduced. This meant lower pay and higher prices
Damage to civilans was only on the coast and borders
Impact of warfare on civilians during the civil war
Requisitioning continued
Plunder was very common
High taxes
Large homelessness rates from seiges
Who fought in the battle of Naseby?
Royalists and Parliamentarians
Who won the battle of Naseby?
Parliamentarians
When was the battle of Naseby?
1645
Why was the parlimentarian battleground choice at the battle of Naseby good?
The center was an ideal place for cavalry
They had protected flanks
They were behind a ridge, enemy couldnt see them
High position gave tactical advantage
Continuity in army composition 1700 - 1850
Permanent standing army of around 50,000
Decline of cavalry continued
Artillery stayed the same
Change in army composition c1850 - c1900
British empire growth meant army size increased to 250,000
Government more involved in organising army size and finances
Specialisation and professionalism c1700
Soldiers still pressed into service
Bright red uniform
Infantry all had muskets and bayonets
Support from immobile cannons
Specialisation and professionalism c1900
Command structures more defined
Camo or brown/grey uniform
Steamtrains and ships used as main transport
Rifles and machine guns led to specialised infantry roles
Long distance artillery and light field artillery bombarded enemy
Continuity in roles on the battlefield c1700 - 1900
Cavalry - still important for reconnaisance and harrsasment but new tech left them weak.
Infantry - still the decisive factor in battle
Continuity in tactics on the battlefield c1700 - 1900
Cavalry - charges still used but mainly due to tradition and privilege.
Infantry - loading times improved so four deep lines became two deep. Still sent straight into overwhelming firepower situations. Generals refused to accept changing situations
Why had little changed in training c1700 - 1850?
Officers thought they knew best but were adapted to old times.
New technologies that improved rifles and ammunition c1850
Minié bullets - easier loading
Conical bullets - more aerodynamic, increased ranged
Percussion bullets - essier loading and more reliabke rifles by removing reliance on powder.
Breech loading - four times faster loading than with muskets
Magazines - allowed several bullets to be loaded at once
How did field artillery improve c1700 - 1900
John ‘iron mad’ wilkinson made cannons thinner and lighter
Bonze cannons were lighter and could be horse drawn
Field guns were developed that could be recoiled.
How did heavy artillery improve c1700 - 1900
Steel cannons were stronger than bronze
Breech loaded cannons reloaded five times faster than muzzle loaded
Cannons got rifled barrels to improve range to 5km
Percussion shells that exploded were developed
Smokeless shells developed
What were the main factors affecting change c1700 - 1900?
Arms race - when one country got good technology, others would race to get it too
Social attitudes - conservatism, fear and cost
Political attitudes - French recolution made governments uneasy to change
Individuals - people like Wilkinson
Industrialisation - sciene and technological improvements. Also mass production.
What were the main new changes in transportation c1700 - 1900?
Steam trains and steam ships allowed for much faster transport of people and supplies
What changes in communications occured c1700 -1900
The electric telegraph was developed which enabled governments to contact generals on campaign. Newspaper reporters also relied on telegraph to write their reports.
How did mass production affect warfare c1700 - 1900?
It made manufacturing products faster and much cheaper.
In what 2 ways did science affect warfare c1700 - 1900
Filament of mercury provided the explosove that lead to percussion bullets
Invention of Nitroglycerine led to the development of smokeless gunpowder
What issues were there in recruitment c1700?
Low quality officers from status appointance
Other ranks had long enlistments time and not much pay
Not enoguh recruits gained and criminals and debtors allowed to fight in wartime
Methods of recruitment c1700 - 1850
Colnels regiments
1757 militia act - overhaul of assive of arms, 18 - 50 recruited from local parishes for 5 years service
What reforms in professionalism happened in 1870? (1870 army act)
Lower ranks enlisted for 12 years but 6 were in reserve
After 12 years soldiers could resign or rejoin and gain a pension
What was the 1871 regularisation of the forces act?
Every regiment had two linked battalions. One at home and one abroad.
Each regiments third battalion was made up of local militia.
Rations were improved and branding and flogging abolished
How did training improve after 1850 - 1900?
More officers came to the army via college
Artillery officers trained at a millitary academy from 1741
Existing officers trained
1871 sale of commisions ended. Officers appointed by Merit alone
Milotary schools made to train weapons instructors
Civilian experience of war due to requisitioning and taxation 1700 - 1900
In 1700 the army relied on requisitioning for transport. Ships often requisitioned due to building costs.
The cost of the army from 1700 to 1750 rose from around £1,000,000 to £8,000,000 but the burden caused by the extra cost was relatively small as population rose and living standards increased.
Impact of newspaper reporting c1700 - 1900
A vast majority of the public was now invested in reading the news and newspaper sales skyrocketed.
Developments in requisitioning 1855 and 1888
1855 - Land transport corps created to manage transport of the army
1888 - army service corps took on provisioning of the army
Who fought in waterloo?
Britain and France
Who won at waterloo?
Britain
When was the battle of waterloo?
1815
Why was the choice of battleground at waterloo good?
It was only 3 miles across
Wellington deployed his troops behind a ridge to reduce damage by artillery
Two positions set up on the flank to interrupt the French attack
Concealed field artillery in one flank
Who fought in the battle of balaclava?
Russia and Britain
When was the battle of balaclava?
1854
Changes in army composition post 1900
Infantry - 65 percent to 25 percent from 1914 to 2015
Cavalry - 10 percent in 1914 and 10 percent (in tanks) 2015
Artillery - 20 percent 1914 and 10 percent 2015 - aircraft have overtaken their role
Specialist troops - 5 percent 1914 and 55 percent 2015
What specialist units were created post 1900?
Bomb disposal
Royal engineers
Royal logistics corps
Royal medical corps
What changes in structure occured in the army post 1900?
Haldanes reforms 1908 - professional army of 150k and territorial force. National reserve
Army 2020 - 82,000 personnel and army reserve of 30,000
Impact of post 1900 developments on machine guns
Effective in defense but needed teams to cool down. Could fire 600 rpm
Effects of post 1900 developments on cavalry
Cavalry replaced by motor vehichles such as tanks
Effects of post 1900 developments on chemical weapons
Hundreds of chemical attacks in world war 1. Most countries have banned them now tho
Effects of post 1900 developments on aircraft
Thousands more planes made in just a few years. Key role in mobile artillery.
Impact of modern developments on transport post 1900
Germans moved troops by train for surprise attacks
Motorised transport introduced
Paratroopers introduced
Air support ‘cab rank’ system introduced
How has surveillance changed 1900 - present?
Aircraft to sattellite imagery
Rader and cameras now used for guidance systems and detection devices
How does guerrila warfare affect conflict?
It allows the less powerful side to still be able to fight and win in less traditional warfare.
Changes in recruitment 1900 - present
WW1 and 2 - standing army plus conscription introduced
Nowadays the froce is permenant and voluntary
Other methods of recruitment c1900 - present
Government propaganda
PAL battalions (battalions made up of local volunteers)
National service
How has recruitment of women changed 1900 - present?
1916 - worked as nurses
17 - 18 womens air force and auxiolery corps
1941 - unmarried women could be conscripted
1992 - women integrated into male units
What kind of war developed in ww1 and ww2?
Total warfare
Effect on civilians from living on the home front 1900 - present
Civilians had to ration food
The blitz destroyed homes and killed many
Governement power greatly increased
Air raid precautions such as child evacuations
Unexpected benefits of modern warfare 1900 - present
Medical advances
Gender equality in the armed forces (and in general)
What were lots of the public afraid of post 1945?
Nuclear bombs and a nuclear attack
Attitudes to conciencious objectors c1900?
ww1 - shunned and sent white feathers in the post
ww2 - usually found work (not always war work) but still received hostility
Changes in war reporting c1900 - present
1914 - one reporter (an army officer)
1916 - five joirnalists
2003 - 700 reporters as part of coalition forces in iraq
What were the main events at the somme offensive 1916?
German observation ballons shot down
Large scale gas attacks
Week - long artillery bombardment
Creeping artillery led the advance
120,000 british troops went over the top. 20,000 killed
Reasons for the outcome at the somme offensive?
Surprise was lost
German trenches were strong
Defence was very strong, hard to beat
British milotary lacked experience
Artillery barrage failed
Tanks poorly managed
Nature of trench warfar 1900 - present
Boring routines
Wet feet - trenchfoot
Harsh winters and no sleep
Dirty water and rats - disease
Lice
Shell shock
Iraq war 2003 strategy
Prep the battlefield (bomb iraqi leaders first)
Two months of targetted air raids
200,000 strong ground attack with heavy support
Use of computerised weponary in the iraq war
Paveway bombs used gps
Storm shadow cruise missiles operated from the ground
Challenger tanks with laser assisted guns
Aerial surveillance techniques in the iraq war
Drones were controlled by pilots on the ground for reconnaisance and bombings
Satnet 4 (british satellite network) used to intercept iraqi communications and give warnings. Also used to guide smart bombs
Reasons for the outcome of the iraq war 2003
Advanced weapons easily dealt with iraqi forces
Iraq planes stayed on the ground, allies had superier firepower
Tech couldnt hold the country down afterwards though. IEDs, guerrila warfare and suicide attacks led the coalition to withdraw
Key area of change 1250 - 1500
Longbow and use of pikes led to the decline in the importance of the mounted knight
Continuity 1250 - 1500
Army size stayed similar
Command still ased on social position
Limited warfare used
Areas of change in experience of warfare 1250 - 1500
Recruitment changed, end of feudal system
Cost of wars impacted civilians more
Areas of continuity in experience of warfare 1250 - 1500
Assize of arms used until 1500
Plunder still a threat
Change in the nature of warfare in the 1500 - 1750s
Artillery used more widely at the end
Firearms (matchlock to flintlock) improved by 1750
Continuity in the nature of warfare 1500 - 1750
Armies continued to be a mix of infantry, cavalry and artillery
Change in experience 1500 - 1750s
More civilians directly impacted
New model army much more proffessional
Continuity of experience 1500 - 1700s
Fear of plunder
Change in nature 1700 - 1900
Industrial and technological developments
Continuity in nature 1700 - 1900
Artillery was a key component
Cavalry still a valued resource despite new weapons
Change in experience 1700 - 1900
Cardwell reforms, attempt to prefessionalise the army. End of purchase commision
Increase news coverage by 1900s
Continuity in experience 1700 - 1900
Little physical impact on civilians
Problems with recruitments of high standard soldiers
Change in nature of modern warfare
Composition of the army vastly changed - artillery, tanks, planes, logistic corps etc
Haldanes reforms, regular and territorial force
World wars had a big impact
Weapon development rapid (nukes)
Continuity in nature of modern warfare
Army still small in peacetime
Infantry still most likely to confront enemy on ground
Change in experience of modern warfare
Conscription introduced
Total warfare (women employed)
Civilians became targets
Level of training improved
Rationing introduced
Continuity in experience of modern warfare
Media and press continued to make people aware of warfare and conflict
