Weapons and Technology (1700-1850)

Question 1

What weapon did the Infantry use?

Answer 1

Brown Bess musket

Question 2

How was the Brown Bess musket loaded?

Answer 2

Muzzle loaded

Question 3

What was the effective range of a Brown Bess musket?

Answer 3

100 metres

Question 4

What was the Brown Bess fitted with for close quarters combat?

Answer 4

Bayonet

Question 5

Give two types of artillery fire

Answer 5

Grape shot

Canisters

Question 6

What new type of artillery was introduced during this period?

Answer 6

Light Field Artillery

Question 7

What allowed cannons to become lighter?

Answer 7

The industrial revolution, producing more iron

Question 8

How much did iron production increase by during this period?

Answer 8

25 tons in 1720 to 2 million tons in 1850

Question 9

What new material was used to make cannons by the end of the period and why?

Answer 9

Bronze, because it was lighter

Question 10

What was different about the Light Field Artillery?

Answer 10

They were pulled by horses so were far more mobile

Question 11

What 3 main positions would artillery take up during a battle?

Answer 11

In front of infantry to protect them
Inside squares for safety
On high ground to bombard enemies

Question 12

What were the 3 main infantry formations?

Answer 12

Line, column and square

Question 13

What happened to the depth of line formation as the period went on?

Answer 13

Depth shrank from 4 lines to just 2

Question 14

Why did the Depth of line formation change?

Answer 14

Loading time improved so 2 lines could fire at 20 second intervals

Question 15

What allowed infantry to be moved quickly around the battlefield?

Answer 15

Rhythmic marching

Question 16

Give 3 reasons why there was limited change during this period

Answer 16

Individuals such as Wellington resisted the modernisation of the army
People thought a big army could reduce political freedom
Ruling class worried that change could threaten their power after seeing the French Revolution (1789)