Lessons from Wars of German Unification

Section 5 Questions:

1. What were the reasons for Prussian military supremacy during the wars of Germany unification? During the wars of German Unification, the Prussian army had military supremacy for several reasons; the use of the General Staff, their use of railroad strategies, their growth in number, and their new tactics. The General Staff, had been developed during the Napoleonic Wars, and it was used to develop new army doctrines and war strategies. However, it did not gain sufficiency until 1857 when Helmuth von Moltke was made Chief of the General Staff, and transformed it into the most effective of army leaderships in all Europe. It became intense on the study of previous campaign strategies, and mapping of the country which would be used for militant purpose. There was also the increase of use of the Railways, which they could use to send their troops on the first call on their required services. Prussia also extended its army to their people, allowing anyone of any social class to enlist. However, there was a slight change in years of service, instead of serving 2 years in the regular army, soldiers were required to serve 3 and this was followed by an additional 4 years of service in the army reserve. Never the less, their new recruits were now better educated and even better training wise. This helped to increase the Prussians army size to double its previous capacity, and increase its ability for a bid on greater status of power. Finally there was the increase of Prussian war tactics. Their use of faster mobilization, through railways and their increase in fire power due to breech-loading riffles gave them the extra boost in military efficiency. This allowed for the Prussian army to leave behind the full frontal attacks and instead allowed them to develop new war strategies, such as out flanking the enemy and finishing them off quickly by closing in on them. Thus, the Persian army able to become more efficient in military strategy and gain military supremacy.

2. What were the lessons drawn from these wars? There was one thing that could be taken from the Wars of German Unification, and that was to be more like Germany; That nations should change to become more like this one country that had dominated the French and the Austrians. Thus, the lessons learned were as follows, -Rapid mobilization via railroad, was of the utmost importance.

-You needed to pay very close attention to sweeping plans of attack. -The use of General staff was valuable and essential as the brain of military exploits. These were added to the concept of power and speed of attack being the main reason for the supremacy of the Prussians military excellence.

Section 6 Questions:

1. What impact did the introduction of the magazine rifle have on warfare? With the introduction of the magazine rifle, the impact it had on warfare was tumultuous. Unlike the previous gun styles, which held only one bullet at a time, the new guns could hold up nine bullets in the loading chamber. Better still, each bullet could be fired once every four seconds. Later, there was the development of metal encased cartridges and smokeless propellants, thus allowing for the gunman's position to be covered, without having to worry about gun smoke giving away their cover, or making it difficult to see. And finally, the most important of all, was the change in the number of cartridges someone could carry, from sixty rounds to two hundred rounds.

2. Why were many military commanders reluctant at first to use the machine gun? Many of the military commanders were very reluctant at first to use the machine gun because it was a serious challenge to their beliefs of how warfare should be. They had once believed that it was an individuals courage, morale, and the discipline of their specific fighting forces ,was far more important than anything technology was capable of producing. They feared that the machine gun would some how lessen the value of the individual fighting unit.

3. What advances did artillery make during the last half of the nineteenth century? There were several advances made in artillery during the last half of the nineteenth century. The application of the stronger steel technology was one, which increased accuracy and the potental ability to win battles. The light weight, the change in mobility, and better range enhanced the weapons. Finally, there was the development of new explosive devices like cordite, TNT, and lyddite that did not give away the firer's position and gave far better range for attack than before.

Section 7 Questions:

1.Why did commanders cling to the idea of the offensive? How is this reflected in their strategic plans and military build up? Commanders clung to the idea of the offensive, because the had been part of the Napolitic era and had been part of the full frontal assults.

Franco-Austrian War lessons

1. What were the advantages and disadvantages of railroads during the Franco-Austrian War of 1859? During the Franco-Austrian War of 1859 there were both advantages and disadvantages of the railroads. The French were more than able to use the railroads to their advantage, using it to send their fully supplied, peak conditioned infantry soldiers, of 120,000 men to the battle lines of Northern Italy. This gave them a huge advantage against the Austrian reserve, who could not fathom the railroad, and only succeeded in getting themselves lost and as such managed to miss the battle altogether. (Are we sure it was an accident? Cause if it were me, I'd skip that too.)

2. What critical mistake did French commanders make regarding the use of an infantry charge? The one critical error that French commanders made during the Franco-Austrian War was using the infantry charge which was a suicidal idea. The only reason they weren't massacred was because the Slav conscripts couldn't fully use their new rifles or understand their Austrian commanders!

War in the Industrial Age 1815-1914.

1. How did the kings try to return their armies to their traditional role? The kings of European countries attempted to return their armies to their original forms by returning to the old ways of army standards. They removed all Napoleonic officers from position and instead returned to appointing reliable foreign troops and officers. Many kings returned soldiers to 'being agents of national and social repression.'

2. What were the major developments in military and non-military technology? The major developments in military and non-military technology were: The rifle, and artillery under military technology, and railroads, and the telegraph under non-military technologies.

3. What technologies created a more deadly rifle? There were several technologies that assisted in the making of a deadlier riffle. The invention of the percussion cap, which was developed through the discovery of fulminated mercury, that exploded on impact was one technology. Another, was the Minie Bullet, which was able to be easily dropped down a rifle's barrel and was able to expand when fired to fir the rifle's grooves. Finally there was the invention of the Dreyse rifle, which gave it's user better field advantages and shooting advantages.

4. What increased the firepower of artillery pieces? Artillery pieces had their firepower increased through the ability to convert into simplified forms that produced greater range and accuracy.

5. Summarize five ways railroads aided military campaigns. Railways aided military campaigns in many ways. They sped up the delivery; of armies, of greater troop numbers, and the delivery of supplies to the troops. They also equipped armies with less tired troops who did not have to walk all the way across each battlefield, and they provided a way to remove any sick and injured troops from the battlefields.

6. How did the telegraph both help and hinder generals in the field? The telegraph was both a help and a hindrance to army field generals. Although they provided faster means of informing leaders and commanders of troop information, they also provided newspapers with the ability to bring the public in on the events occurring in the battles that provided the public the ability to speculate over the armies successes and failures.

Social Changes

#1 Nineteenth century novels can be considered reliable primary documents for their historical influence, background knowledge, settings, and the way their tales relayed to events in history.

#2 The life of a Middle-Class Russian Landowner was simple. One got married, settled down, had a family, possibly lived happily with their spouse. The wife would stay at home, growing flowers taking care of the chickens while her husband went hunting and would look after his estate and affairs. The son would go on to higher education and follow their fathers footsteps, thus repeating the entire process.

#3 Cousul Tienappel, an upper class German enjoys a very lavish lifestyle. He has a splendid estate, with a weedless lawn, near a river and a rose bush garden. He has a vast assortment of fine carriages, always ate finely assorted meals, and always wears suits of finest English cloth. He owns fine jewelery, has two sons, and even keeps a housekeeper, and on special occasions hires waiters to serve when he invites dinner guests.

#4 The accounts of the lives of the french working class differs from that of others in several ways. For one thing, unlike the other accounts, this one shows a less privileged lifestyle. It depicts how lower class families lived and how they had to survive. Unlike the higher up classes, the working class French were living in cramped conditions, sharing beds, and suffering deformities/diseases. A whole family often shared one room and shared beds with other family members. They were given coal rations which were used to heat the kitchens and house and ovens. Food was less than ample, bread was scarce, as was bread. Worse a whole family usually worked in one place, like a coal mine and family members were given food according to their stature in the family. Life for them was not a happy one.

#5 It would be an understatement to say that in the 19Th century Ireland furniture was a luxury. In some villages, like the Village of Tullahobaghy in County Donegal, there were barely any beds, barely enough chairs and stools, to support the population.

#6 The first suburbs in Britain were created in Britain as an escape from the filthy congestion of the industrial cities. Before 1850 only the richest people who could afford carriages that would bring them to work could live in suburbs. Only when trains and then trams were brought to them could less fortunate families afford to live in suburbs.

#7 The diets of upper class and middle class differed form that of the lower class in many ways. For one, the upper and middle class followed the French styles for dinning. They ate large breakfasts, light lunches , dinners then later desserts. Dinners were huge events with usually no less than five dishes. Peasants ate little, usually bread and whatever they could afford.

#8 Erm, i failed to make sense of what you were asking sir.

#9 Family sizes were decreasing during the last half of the nineteenth century due to better use of birth control and less to infertility.

#10 Economical and social changes improved the way that women's lives were through the development of new careers. There was a higher demand for elementary school teachers, female nurses, secrataries, and receptionists. Over time, females would eventually become doctors, lawyers, and women would begin attending higher educations.

#11 There were two major things impeding Europen Newspapers. One was the taxes on newspapers the second would be the restriction on the freedom off press.

#12 The mass circulation of newspapers after 1870 can be attributed to the massive increase in technological advancement. Telephones made it easier to get news around, and people were able to keep up a steady stream of current events. Papers were printed cheaper and began to spread even faster.

#13 The most probable reason for the development of sports and leisure activities during the last part of the nineteenth century would be that people were probably working less hours, and thus needed a way to entertain themselves. And the upper class who probably worked very little, wanted to spend their free time enjoying themselves.

Gov't Oversight, Part II.

#5. Religion was a hindrance in establishing public education in Europe because they limited education since their only goal was the production of their religious sects. They sought to form more religious children and in that, caused rifts among groups. Each wanted a school with its own religious background.

#6. It was the countries best interest to ensure that all children of citizens received free public educations because (according to french philosophers), a society can only continue if its populous is well educated. And the nation cannot prosper if its people are lacking in efficient knowledge needed to fix their country.

#7. When Lord Shaftesbury said; "We ask but for a slight relaxation of toil, a time to live and a time to die", he was saying that the work hours were too long, men were not able to do what they needed to survive, and that the people were almost dead, continuing to live even though it was way past their time. He said people needed time to themselves, that humans had limited time on earth and didn't need to spend all of it in a factory!

#8. Governments began to take over public utilities in the late nineteenth century because they felt it would help to reign in the uncontrolled expansion of the early industrial revolution and it would assist in paving a new way of life into the countries.

#9.It may be in a state's best interest to have compulsory insurance because it lessens the appeal of socialism, it makes money for the government and gave money to those injured in accidents, got sick, or who were simply too old to work.

#10. Two consequences that resulted from an increase of the role of the Government were; a huge growth in the size of European civil services and the creation of new taxes that covered the cost of the governments new activities.

Government Oversight

#1. Lord Melbourne's view of government differs from that of Louis Blanc, in the idea that Melbourne believes that the Government should only be protecting its people from crimes and preserve its contracts. While Blanc on the other hand believed the government should be the supreme director of productions and given great strength and the ability to accomplish the tasks it sets for itself.

#2.Laissez-Faire a French phrase meaning "let do"

#3. Governments pulled away from Laissez-faire attitudes because as the population began to grow problems in the social realm began to increase and cause more problems.

#4. Improvements in medical science played a big role in health improvements. Once it was discovered that dirt and germs caused diseases then people began to change and become more health aware.

Mr. Hyer #'s 7&8

7.In general terms, how did farming change across Europe between the Middle Ages and the beginning of World War II. Cite two specific examples.

In general, farming changed from a way of life to a thing of the past. "By 191, predominantly an industrial continent, [Europe] depended on other continents, notably America and Australasia, for many of its foodstuffs, although its own European farmers produced far more than they had done a century earlier." "...farmed by peasants or serfs who,....possessed their own plots of land which they could work for themselves and their families."

8.What were the two alternatives European governments faced to deal with the foreign agricultural products being imported into their countries? What were the consequences of both alternatives for Britain, France and Germany?
European governments had to face the problem of either allowing the their foreign competitors to over-run their own agriculture, or protect it by raising taxes on imported goods. Reactions? France and Germany remained well balanced with their agriculture, however Britain was ruined from 1875 to 1900 (one year before I was born, YAY ME!).