1. The Impact of the Crimean War

• When was the Crimean War?

  1853-1856
• What was the main cause of the Crimean War?

  France and Britain (allied with the Ottoman Empire, Sardinia, and Piedmont) wanted to stop Russian expansion into the Balkans, catalysed when Russia occupied Moldavia and Wallachia in 1853.
• What were the Allied advantages/successful tactics during the Crimean War?

  They were:

  • Landed in the Black Sea (but this was unsuccessful anyway)
  • Built a railway between Balaklava and Sevastapol for the trade route
  • Piedmont and Sardinia joined the Allies
  • First use of mechanised watches to launch a main assault in the siege of Sevastapol
  • The French helped re-organise the British army through detachments
  • They cut Russian supply lines for food and ammunition
  • Had more modern and advanced weapons (like telegrams)
• What were the Russian disadvantages/mistakes during the Crimean War?

  They were:

  • Russia expected the support of Austria and Britain, but this didn't take place.
  • They didn't exploit the opportunity to decimate the Allied forces when they landed on an open beach (not a port) 30 miles north of Sevastopol.
  • They were using outdated weapons (some from 1799) including flintlock muskets, not modern rifles, and fixed bayonets.
  • The conscripted army consisted of a majority of serfs and criminals, with little training (only in drill and regimentation, but not battle tactics) and poor morale.
• What were the Russian disadvantages/mistakes during the Crimean War (card two)?

  They were:

  • They overestimated the ability of the army due to its large size (1 million).
  • Communications to Crimea were often poor, with muddy roads, and the rail network was inadequate.
  • Food supplies often rotted en route, or the money to buy supplies was siphoned off by corrupt officers.
  • Much of the army was bogged down protecting other Russian borders with Austria, Sweden, and Prussia.
• When was the Treaty of Paris signed?

  30th March 1856
• What did the Treaty of Paris state?

  It stated:

  • The Black Sea was to be neutral and closed to all warships.
  • There was to be no fortifications on the shores of the Black Sea.
  • Russia had to give up her claim to be the protector of Christians within the Ottoman Empire.
  • Russia had to give up land gained in Bessarabia.
  • The Western powers pledged to maintain the integrity of the Ottoman Empire.
  • Moldavia and Wallachia were recognised as semi-independent states under the protection of the Ottomans.
• Overall, how did the Crimean War contribute to hunger for reforms?

  Overall:

  • The Treaty of Paris had ensured that Russian attempts to expand its empire and influence in the Balkans were, for the time being, thwarted.
  • At the start of Alexander's reign, defeat on Russian soil and a severe blow to Russian prestige provided the impetus for the internal reform that had been lacking during his father's reign.