The British Experience of Warfare, c1790–1918

What The British Experience of Warfare, c1790–1918 covers

A Paper 3 option combining aspects in breadth on the changing army and navy, recruitment, weaponry and the civilian war effort with aspects in depth on four conflicts: the French Wars, the Crimea, the Boer War and the Western Front.

The 19 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• The military and reasons for changes 1790-1918Recall questions on the Duke of York's reforms, the McNeill-Tulloch Report, the Cardwell and Haldane reforms, the Esher Report, and Fisher at the Admiralty.Open →
• The recruitment of the fighting forces 1790-1918Recall questions on impressment, why men enlisted, long and short service, the militia, Kitchener's volunteers and the Pals battalions, and conscription from 1916.Open →
• Changing weaponry 1790-1918Recall questions on carronades and Congreve's rockets, rifling and the Minie rifle, Armstrong's artillery, the machine gun, gas, and the development of the tank.Open →
• The populace and the war effort 1790-1918Recall questions on how wars were financed through taxes, consols and war loans, the changing role of civilians, and the Defence of the Realm Act.Open →
• Facing the French threat on landRecall questions on the Peninsular War, the Lines of Torres Vedras, Wellington's tactics against the column, the Spanish guerrillas, and Waterloo.Open →
• Facing the French threat at seaRecall questions on the blockade of the French ports, the Nile, Nelson's tactics at Trafalgar, the Continental System, and what naval supremacy meant for the empire.Open →
• The economic impact of the French WarsRecall questions on the length of the conflict, the stimulus to industry, high grain prices and enclosure, the slump after 1815, and the social costs.Open →
• Facing the Russian threat in the CrimeaRecall questions on why Britain fought, the Alma and Balaclava, the Charge of the Light Brigade, Inkerman, the siege of Sebastopol, and the winter of 1854.Open →
• The problems of medical careRecall questions on the state of army medicine, conditions at Scutari, what Nightingale actually changed, her use of statistics, and Mary Seacole's contribution.Open →
• Public attitudes to the conduct of the Crimean WarRecall questions on the telegraph and Russell's despatches, the fall of Aberdeen's government, Fenton's photographs and their limits, and the reforms that followed.Open →
• Facing the Boers in southern AfricaRecall questions on why war broke out, the nature of the Boer commandos, why the British army struggled, Black Week, the sieges, and the turn to guerrilla warfare.Open →
• Roberts, Kitchener and Buller in the Boer WarRecall questions on Roberts's reorganisation, Kitchener's blockhouses and farm burning, the concentration camps and their mortality, Buller's reputation, and the peace terms.Open →
• Public attitudes to the Boer WarRecall questions on the early jingoism and the khaki election, Churchill's reporting, Emily Hobhouse and the Fawcett Commission, the pro-Boers, and national efficiency.Open →
• From a war of movement to attritionRecall questions on why the front stalemated, the trench system, why defence was stronger than attack, the military adjustments needed, and the creeping barrage.Open →
• Public perception of the Western FrontRecall questions on how reporting was controlled, war artists and photographers, the Battle of the Somme film, atrocity propaganda, the war poets, and the futility debate.Open →
• Haig's major offensivesRecall questions on why the Somme was fought and its first day, what it achieved, the conditions at Passchendaele, the Hundred Days, and how Haig is assessed.Open →
• The impact of aerial reconnaissanceRecall questions on the first military use of aircraft, aerial photography, artillery spotting and wireless, observation balloons, and why air superiority mattered.Open →
• The Royal Flying Corps and air powerRecall questions on the growth of the air services, the development of fighters, Bloody April, ground attack in 1918, and the formation of the RAF.Open →
• Zeppelin and Gotha bombing of British townsRecall questions on when the raids began, the casualty figures, the Gotha raid of June 1917, the defences developed, and the long-term significance.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take The British Experience of Warfare, c1790–1918 further

The same content, four other ways.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What did the McNeill-Tulloch Report of 1855 investigate?

   Model answer

   The supply and administrative failures of the British army in the Crimea, exposing the breakdown in provisioning that caused suffering and death.

2. 2

   What were the main Cardwell army reforms of 1868–74?

   Model answer

   Abolition of the purchase of commissions, short-service enlistment, a linked regimental (localisation) system, and bringing the army under the War Office.

3. 3

   What did Haldane's army reforms of 1905–12 create?

   Model answer

   A ready British Expeditionary Force, a Territorial Force for home defence, a general staff and officer training corps, modernising the army before 1914.

4. 4

   How did the navy change in size after 1815?

   Model answer

   With peace, many ships were decommissioned and the navy was greatly reduced from its wartime strength.

5. 5

   Why did the change from sail to steam matter for the navy?

   Model answer

   Steam power freed warships from reliance on wind, but required coaling stations and drove major changes in ship design and organisation.

6. 6

   What did Fisher change as First Sea Lord?

   Model answer

   He scrapped obsolete ships, redistributed the fleet to face Germany, and introduced the revolutionary Dreadnought battleship.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

The British Experience of Warfare, c1790–1918 revision questions

What does The British Experience of Warfare, c1790–1918 cover in Edexcel A-Level History?

19 subtopics: the military and reasons for changes 1790-1918, the recruitment of the fighting forces 1790-1918, changing weaponry 1790-1918, the populace and the war effort 1790-1918, facing the french threat on land, facing the french threat at sea, the economic impact of the french wars, facing the russian threat in the crimea, the problems of medical care, public attitudes to the conduct of the crimean war, facing the boers in southern africa, roberts, kitchener and buller in the boer war, public attitudes to the boer war, from a war of movement to attrition, public perception of the western front, haig's major offensives, the impact of aerial reconnaissance, the royal flying corps and air power and zeppelin and gotha bombing of british towns. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is The British Experience of Warfare, c1790–1918 organised?

By the Edexcel 9HI0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.