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132 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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When was the Crimean war? |
March 1854 - September 1856 |
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Why did Russia want to force Turkey into an alliance? |
Because to enter the Mediterranean from the Black Sea, ships must pass through the straits controlled by Turkey. With alliance, Russian Black Sea fleet based at Sevastopol in Crimea could pass through. |
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What did the British and French not want/fear? |
Didn’t want Russian warships in the Mediterranean. British feared collapse of Turkey would lead to Russia threatening their naval supremacy in the Mediterranean and key routes to India |
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Why did Russian soldiers enter Ottoman Danube provinces? |
Russians pressed ottoman Sultan for concessions regarding empire’s Christian subjects but Sultan refused. |
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When did Turkey declare war on Russia? |
5th October 1853 |
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When and where did Russian navy attack ottoman fleet, sinking many Turkish warships? |
30th November Black Sea port of Sinope |
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When Turkey declared war, how did Britain and France show support? |
Sent fleets to the straits (Dardanelles and Bosporus) |
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What did British and french fleets do January 1854? |
Sailed into the Black Sea to blockade the Russian fleet |
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When did Britain and France declare war on Russia? |
March 1854 |
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What move kept Austria out of the anti-Russian alliance? |
The Russians agreed to withdraw troops from the Danube war zone. |
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Who was the leader of France during the Crimean war? |
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon’s nephew) |
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Which weapon gave Britain and France an edge? |
The French Minie riffle Muzzle-loading, like the brown Bess musket but more Powerful. Three times the range of the smoothbore muskets used by most Russian soldiers. |
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How much had British style of land warfare adapted since the French wars? |
Hardly changed, still used infantry in line firing muskets with artillery support, and cavalry with swords. Bright red jackets (uniforms identical to those worn at Waterloo) Firearm also much the same. |
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Which wars had Britain fought in since Waterloo? |
Colonial wars in India and Afghanistan. No major European battle since Waterloo. |
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Which success had made the navy overconfident? |
Successes in China during opium wars. |
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What was the navy’s job in the Crimea? |
To blockade the Russian fleet, transport the army, safeguard the supplies & lend gunfire support when needed. |
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What types of ships were used in the Crimea? |
A mixture of wooden steamers and sailing vessels. |
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Which shortcomings in the British army were revealed by the Crimean war? |
Lack of professionalism among officers. The inability of units to communicate and cooperate. The inadequacy of medical treatment. Shortage of decent food and shelter for soldiers. |
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When was the Battle of Alma? |
20th September 1854 |
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Why did Britain and France choose to attack the Russians in the Crimea? |
They hoped they could take the naval base of Sevastopol quickly with bulk of Russian forces further west in Balkans. |
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Where did the allied armies land unopposed and establish a base? |
Eupatoria. |
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Where was the first battle in the Crimean war? |
Alma |
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Who led the Russian, French & British armies? |
Russian - Prince Menshikov French - Saint Arnaud British - Raglan |
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What advantages did the allies have at the battle of Alma? |
They outnumbered the Russians & had support from naval gunfire. |
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What order did Raglan have to give due to confusion? |
He ordered his infantry to lie down to minimise casualties. |
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What is an ‘earthwork’? |
A defensive position made up of a barrier of soil and trenches. |
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What was the British objective at the battle of Alma? |
A Russian earthwork called ‘The Great Redoubt’, in which Menshikov had placed artillery. |
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Briefly describe the events of the battle of Alma. |
As British infantry advanced the Russians removed their guns and retreated. The light division took the redoubt but then lost it to Russian counter attack. Guards division regained it after a fierce fight and a final push by the Highland brigade forced the Russians to withdraw. |
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What did Raglan fail to do at the end of the battle of Alma? |
He did not pursue the Russians with cavalry to drive home the advantage because he was indecisive. |
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How were shortcomings in allied leadership and organisation revealed at the battle of Alma? |
At times, the British mistook the French for the Russians. Officers complained that they were not given clear orders but merely told to go this way or that. Soldiers had little idea how deep the river was until they waded through it. |
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What did Raglan want to do after the battle of Alma and what happened instead and why? |
He had intended to attack Sevastopol at once but the French and his chief engineer, General Burgoyne disagreed and argued for a prepared siege assault. |
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How did the Russians prepare for an assault on Sevastopol? |
They deliberately sunk warships in Sevastopol harbour and took the ships guns to defend the town. The field army moved east to avoid being trapped in the siege. |
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What did the allies waste time doing giving the Russians time to prepare formidable defences? |
Digging siege works and unloading heavy siege guns. |
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When was the battle of Balaklava? |
25th October 1854 |
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What 3 famous actions in British military history happened at the battle of Balaklava? |
The stand of the 93rd foot. The charge of the heavy brigade. The charge of the light brigade. |
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Why did the phrase ‘thin red line’ become a byword for steadfastness? |
Menshikov sent Russian cavalry forward having seen Turks retreating. They were opposed by 500 highlanders deployed by General Sir Colin Campbell who lined up in two ranks on the hilltop their Minie rifles inflicted heavy casualties and the Russians could not break the ‘thin red line’. |
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What were the original words of William Russell to describe the stand of the 93rd foot? |
“A thin red streak topped with a line of steel” |
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Who commanded the British cavalry division and what did he order? |
General Lord Lucan He ordered the 800 strong heavy brigade, led by General Scarlett, to charge the Russians uphill. |
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Describe the charge of the heavy brigade. |
The 800 strong heavy brigade charged the Russians uphill. The Russians stood still, British artillery opened fire on the Russian rear, and the Russians were in retreat. |
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What order did Raglan give and why, and which officer delivered it in the charge of the light brigade? |
Raglan saw Russian troops removing Turkish guns captured earlier, and ordered Lucan to move to stop them. He ordered staff officer Captain Nolan to tell Lucan to send in Cardigan’s cavalry. |
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Why was Raglans order to advance followed incorrectly? |
The order was vague. Lucan disliked Nolan so they didn't share much discussion. The only guns Lucan could see were Russian. When told to attack Cardigan asked for clarification but Lucan insisted those were Lord Raglans orders. Nolan may have assumed Raglan meant the Russian guns, as he was an advocate of cavalry charges. |
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What was the death toll of the charge of the light brigade? |
113 out of 673 (134 wounded) |
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Describe the charge of the light brigade. |
The light brigade charged toward Russian guns and took heavy fire from front and sides. Nolan was killed by an exploding Russian shell. |
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Why was the charge of the light brigade significant? |
Became emblematic of the leadership problems in the Crimea: poor planning, poor communication, vague and conflicting orders, contrasted with brave soldiers. |
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When was the siege of Sevastopol? |
September 1854 to September 1855 |
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When did the Russians attack the British at Inkerman and what was the result? |
November 1854. Russians advanced in early morning fog catching the British off guard in camp. The British won the day but losses were heavy and the assault on Sevastopol was postponed. |
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When was the Crimean peninsula hit by one of the worst storms in living memory? |
November 1854. |
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What was the result of the storm? |
Allied camps were wrecked, ships carrying supplies for winter were sunk, so allied soldiers suffered from cold, hunger and disease while waiting weeks for fresh stores. Horses and mules died from lack of feed, and starving soldiers foraged from scraps. Huts and tents gave little shelter from freezing rain and snow and firewood scarce. |
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Why and how did things improve for allies by Spring? |
The army received fresh horses and a new railway was built linking Balaklava to the camps around Sevastopol. More guns, ammunition and troop reinforcements arrived. Russians could not send relief to Sevastopol so their morale suffered. |
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In the allies’ fresh attack plan, what were the 4 strongpoints they targeted? |
The Mamelon Fort and behind it 3 large redoubts known as the Redan, the Malakoff, and the Little Redan. |
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Why was Sevastopol a new kind of battle? |
It was fought by engineers and artillery gunners. Used siege guns including mortars. No role for dashing cavalry. Infantry sheltered in trenches and stormed fortifications. Foretaste of First World War. |
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When was the battle of Tchernaya and what happened? |
August 1855. Russians suffered another repulse. |
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When did the allies finally take Sevastopol and how? |
September 1855. French took Malakoff redoubt, British captured little Redan, French moved cannons into Malakoff and forced Russians to withdraw from main Redan. |
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Which treaty ended the war and when? |
Treaty of Paris. March 1856. |
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Why did Raglan’s reputation come under fire after the Crimean war? |
He was old school. Having fought at Waterloo, his army was little changed from Wellingtons. |
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Why was it not Raglan’s fault that the siege of Sevastopol took so long? |
He wanted to quickly attach Sevastopol but was persuaded to wait meaning his men spent weeks in camp. The storm of November 1854 caused further delays. |
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When did Raglan die and why? |
28th June 1855 Contracted cholera |
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How did the Crimean war differ from the Peninsular war? |
In the Peninsular war the Portuguese population was friendly -The British had access to a big supply base, Lisbon In the Crimea, locals were hostile and supply base was tentatively held village port, Balaklava |
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What state were the British infantry in during the Crimean war? |
Still trained well- to fire fast and accurately But often ill-equipped, badly supplied and state of men sometimes wretched |
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Who carried out medical treatment during the Crimean war? |
Surgeons Army musicians and veterans acting as stretcher-bearers Wives of soldiers helped with nursing Volunteers eg. Nightingale and Seacole |
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What was Florence Nightingale’s background? |
Born 1820 Second daughter of wealthy family Went to Germany to train as nurse Took senior nursing position in London clinic in 1853 |
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How did the government respond to a The Times newspaper report on poor quality of medical care at beginning of Crimean campaign? |
Minister of war, Sidney Herbert, sent a team of volunteer 38 nurses to the Crimea, led by his friend Florence Nightingale. |
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How were supplies affected by the fact the army's main priority was its fighting men? |
Raglan limited number of medical staff because he needed space on transport ships for fighting men and horses. Examples of medical supplies being taken off hospital ships so the vessels could be used to transport soldiers. |
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What was a nursing orderly and what were they like at the Crimea? |
A non-medical assistant in a hospital, looking after cleaning, meals, laundry and so on. Often ill-suited for the work in the Crimea. |
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How many doctors were signed up for the Crimea at the start of the war? |
None |
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What was the Scutari hospital originally and what effect did this have on conditions? |
Barracks for the Turks Not designed for sick and wounded - primitive toilet arrangements and inadequate space for 1000s of men with limited mobility |
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How did the Doctors respond to the arrival of Nightingale and her nurses? |
Nurses not welcomed. Doctors took the nurses presence to be an implied criticism and resented Nightingale. |
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How did nightingale set about improving the situation at Scutari upon arrival? |
Reorganised the kitchen and improved food for patients Cleaned the wards and strive to provide clean bed linen Arranged a school room and library Sent men with minor wounds to grow vegetables in hospital gardens. |
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What was/is nightingale’s reputation? |
“Angel of the Crimea” + “lady with the lamp” Shows her as caring but she was also a tough administrator |
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Who in the Crimea did Nightingale have disagreements with and what did they result in? |
Senior medical officer at Scutari- Dr Menzies In charge of army medical staff- Dr John Hall Dr Hall tried and failed to get nurses sent back to England. |
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How did Mary Clayton, a senior nurse leading a separate team, describe Scutari? |
She found it a horrible place, where no one trusted or spoke well of each other and people abused others behind their backs |
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Which friendships gave Nightingale access to influential people? |
Government minister - Sidney Herbert The Times Correspondent - William Russel |
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What did Nightingale become a subject of as a result of becoming a celebrity for her work? |
Staffordshire poetry Popular songs A waxwork tableau at Madame Tussaud’s in London |
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How much money did the Times raise to buy medical supplies? |
£30,000 |
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What was the result of the parliamentary vote on the conduct of the war early 1855? |
A new prime minister, Palmerston, succeeded Aberdeen. Nightingale lost ally in Herbert (now out of office) But, Palmerston supported her New war minister, Panmure, ordered sanitary commission to Crimea |
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Who were the commissioners on the Sanitary Commision and when did they begin their work? |
John McNeil- doctor/ diplomat Colonel Alexander Tulloch- soldier Began work in March 1855 by expressing shock at conditions |
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What did the Sanitary commision do and what was the effect of this? |
Ordered a clean up- rubbish cleared, walls whitewashed, dead animals removed. Mortality rates fell among hospital patients. |
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How did Nightingale respond to the commission? |
She welcomed it as having saved the army and worked hard to improve supply of medicines and basic aid, such as hot water bottles. |
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Which chef arrived at Scutari and what did they do? |
Alexis Soyer. Improved patients food using recipes for nourishing stews and soups made from army rations. |
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What did Nightingale complain about when she returned to Scutari from Baklava? |
She complained her work was being undermined by nursing indiscipline and opposition from army doctors |
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What document supported what Nightingale had to say about army failings? |
The McNeil Tulloch report |
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What did the new army commander-in-chief confirm Nightingales role as? |
Superintendent of the “female nursing establishment” in the Crimea |
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What do Nightingale’s supporters say? |
They talk about the improvements that she made in cleanliness, general care and concern for the sick and wounded and her popularity amongst soldiers |
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What do Nightingale’s critics say? |
They claim she presided over a Crimean muddle neither she nor anyone else understood how to deal with and cite the increase in death rates after her arrival. Her impatience with colleagues caused problems |
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How did nightingale spend her life after the Crimea? |
Campaigning for reforms to the army medical service and nursing. Advocate for improvements to hospital design and training for nurses Virtual invalid from late 1850s due to illness s took little public part in her legacy work |
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Why was Nightingale recognised by the royal statistical society? |
For her use of patient-mortality statistics |
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What were the key elements of Nightingale’s legacy? |
Wrote Notes on Nursing 1859- a manual for the training of nurses still in print today Nightingale training school for nurses set up at St Thomas’ hospital 1860 “Nightingale wards” became common in British hospitals |
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What was Mary Seacole’s early background? |
Born in Jamaica 1805 to a Scottish army officer. Her Jamaican mother practised folk medicine and taught Mary her remedies. |
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What did Mary Seacole do 1836-1844? |
She got married to Edwin Seacole and they kept a store until his death in 1844 |
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What did Seacole do after her husband died in 1844? |
Ran a hotel, working as a healer and nurse treating local people and British service families stationed in Jamaica. She then, moved to Panama to run a hotel with her brother, where she successfully treated cholera victims. |
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In 1853, what was Seacole asked to do and what does this show? |
The Jamaican authorities asked her to return home to help combat an outbreak of yellow fever. This is evidence that her reputation for effective treatment in emergency situations was recognised. |
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What did Seacole do when she heard there was a call for nurses to go to the Crimea? |
Made her own way by ship to London in 1854 to offer her services. When she volunteered as a nurse, she was turned down (possibly, she thought, because she was mixed race) |
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What did Seacole write about her application to volunteer as a nurse in her 1857 memoir? |
She described how on her second application she had an interview with one of Nightingale’s assistants and read in her face that had there been a vacancy she would not have been chosen. |
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After being turned down as a nurse, what did Seacole do instead? |
Decided to go to the Crimea independently to resume the kind of medical/ commercial business she had run in Panama. Sailed to Crimea January 1855 |
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What business did Mary Seacole set up, when and with who? |
The British Hotel opened in spring 1855, with Thomas Day. Part hotel, part store, part clinic |
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What was not allowed at the British Hotel and what time did it shut each evening? |
Gambling 8pm |
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Why was the British Hotel popular with soldiers and officers? |
They could buy better quality food - hot soup, chicken, sardines and warm clothing and shoes |
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What did Seacole do in the mornings, after breakfast? |
Cared for the sick and wounded using an upstairs room as a dispensary for medicines. Prescribed remedies that were often helpful. |
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Other than running her British Hotel, what did Seacole spend time doing? |
Visited the battlefields, carry first aid supplies on mules to troops. (The first women on the allied side into Sevastopol after Russians withdrew) |
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How did William Russell feel about and describe Mary Seacole? |
He was her enthusiastic advocate, describing her as a kind and successful “physician”. |
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What did Seacole do after the Crimean war? |
Returned to Britain with unsold stock and debts and opened a store in the army town, Aldershot. |
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What was Mary Seacole’s book called and when was it published? |
Her book of memoirs “Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in many lands” was published in 1857 |
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How did friends come to her aid when the Aldershot business failed? |
A letter to The Times newspaper and a poem published in Punch Magazine, appealed to the public to not let her efforts be forgotten. Also, a fundraising concert. |
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What was Mary Seacole’s legacy? |
Took no part in post-Crimea reforms or discussions. Died in 1881- her tombstone bearing the inscription “a notable nurse” Her Crimea work was largely forgotten until 20th century. |
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Which poll did Mary Seacole win in 2004? |
Greatest black Britons |
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How were battles reported before the Crimean war? |
Weeks after battle, town criers would announce what had happened and rumour and gossip would embellish the tale. By 19th Century, newspaper reports more common but appeared weeks out of date. |
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How was coverage of the Crimean war different to previous wars? |
First to receive coverage that included photographs |
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How did the literacy rates change through the 19th Century and how did this affect war coverage? |
Before 1800, reading was a minority skill. Literacy rates increased due to church Sunday schools, charity schools for the poor and laws forcing factory owners to offer workers a basic education. By 1850, over half of Britain’s population could read and write. Caused a growing demand for something to read so newspapers became popular in all sections of society. |
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How did war photographs from Crimean war differ from photographs today? |
No action shots - subjects had to hold each pose for several seconds. |
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Which new technology meant news could travel much faster? |
Britain had world’s first steam railway network, so newspaper could be carried around the country faster. The electric telegraph allowed brief information to be transmitted in hours. Dispatches from war zone sent to base at Varna. |
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When did the report of the battle of Alma appear in the Times? |
Just over a week after the battles |
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Why did Fenton go to the Crimea and who encouraged him? |
He went as a commercial photographer, working for publisher Thomas Agnew Encouraged by Prince Albert who believed photographs might help counter some of the negative newspaper publicity about the conduct of the war. |
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Why did Roger Fenton chose officers as subjects? |
His brief was to take photos that would sell so believed his main market would be wealthy servicemen whose families would buy a print as a souvenir. Also needed army co-operation to move his wagon, which meant asking officers for help |
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When was Fenton in the Crimea? |
March 1855- June 1855 |
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What did Fenton not witness? |
Wasn’t present for any major battles or the immediate after effects |
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What photos did Fenton take to ease public concern about winter supplies and why were these photos misleading? |
Took a picture of men in the 68th regiment wearing winter sheepskin coats to show soldiers weren’t suffering from the cold Photo taken in April when spring temperatures were average of 25 degrees |
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How long did Fenton exhibit his photographs for? |
8 months |
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What impact did Fenton’s photographs have on pubic perception? |
Gave a rise to a wave of empathy for the plight of soldiers, people questioning what the war was being fought for Landscape photos showed how barren the Crimea was and portraits of men couldn’t hide squalid living conditions |
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Which poignant photograph showed the extent of shellfire exchanged between the armies? |
The valley of the shadow of death |
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Who was William Russel? |
A war correspondant for The Times newspaper |
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When did William Russel go to the Crimea? |
With the first wave of allied forces |
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What areas of warfare was Russel particularly interested in? |
The treatment of the wounded The brutality of battlefield surgery The preparations made for evacuating casualties |
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Why was Russel critical of Raglan at Alma and how did he respond to this? |
For keeping position after the battle of Alma rather than pursuing the Russians and driving them away from Sevastopol. Raglan explained in official dispatches that he remained at Alma to organise care of wounded. |
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How did Russel keep such a steady stream of writing in the Crimea and what did this mean? |
He had a knack of getting people to talk to him and was able to examine all aspects of the campaign. The Times ran a lead article from him in most editions |
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Why was Russel’s description of the Charge of the Light Brigade so influential? |
It was vivid that the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson based his famous poem on it |
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When did William Russell leave the Crimea? |
December 1855 |
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How restricted were the correspondents at the Crimea ? |
They were allowed to travel freely around the war zone giving them opportunity to uncover things authorities might have wished left hidden. |
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What firm opinions did Russell hold? |
He was on the side of the common soldier. He was convinced the generals commanding the army were not up to the task. |
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Which 3 campaigns were The Times involved in? |
Sick and Wounded Fund (raised 1000s of pounds throughout the war for casualties) - Russell’s reporting major part of campaign's success A fund to help Mary Seacole Official recognition for bravery - Victoria cross |
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How many men from the Crimea were awarded the Victoria cross? |
111 |
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How did the power of the press influence politics? |
Press attack on generals led to public demanding scapegoats at home. January 1855- a motion calling for a committee of enquiry into the conduct of the war was passed by huge majority. Prime Minister Lord Aberdeen took this as a vote of no confidence and resigned. Replaced by Lord Palmerston |
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What was Lord Palmerston like? |
Described as an “old painted pantaloon” and “an exploded sham” But he did have experience and a reputation as an effective foreign minister. Better at manipulating the press. Tough on foreign policy but also willing to question conduct of the war |
