War overviews

• When did the FRW start and end?

  1792-1802
• In the FRW and NW who did France ally with and who were they against?

  Various changing allies against various and changing Allied European nations
• Why did opponents in the FRW join in or drop out at various points?

  Defeats or negotiations
• Who were the French main naval opponent in the FRW?

  Britain was continually against France, mainly in the sea and in colonies
• Who were Frances main land opponents in the FRW?

  Austria, Prussia, Spain, Russia and the Netherlands
• How did Napoleon rise to power in the FRW?

  On the meritocratic system he rose as a successful revolutionary general
• What were some of the key new methods developed in the FRW?

  Conscription (levee en masse), development of divisions and Corps, tactical developments; use of column, use of massed skirmishers, massed artillery.
• What was so special about the type of war the FRW was?

  It was a war of ideals, meaning the soldiers were highly motivated
• How did French troops in the FRW eat, why was this effective?

  Troops lived off the land (foraging) which reduced baggage train so they were more mobile
• Were the changes in the FRW effective?

  Yes they struggled to begin but by 1802 they had set up client states and alliances that stretched from Spain to Italy to the Netherlands and into Germany
• Participants in the FRW?

  France, Britain, Austria, Russia, Prussia, Spain, Ottoman Empire
• Key generals in the FRW?

  Jourdan, Napoleon, Davout, Carnot
• Key battles in FRW?

  Valmy, Jemappes, Lodi (Italian Campaign), Marengo, Wattignies
• Outcome of the FRW?

  Series of crushing French victories
• When did the NW start and end?

  1803-1815
• The NW were a continuation of what? How were they slightly different?

  A continuation of the Rev Wars but with a new Napoleonic system in France
• Why is Napoleon considered a military genius?

  The French proved extremely effective under him
• In the NW the French, Russians and Prussians suffered what?

  Major defeats usually resulting in surrender
• In the NW what did the British do, which general led this?

  They opened a land campaign in Portugal and Spain with General Wellington
• When did the decline of success begin in the NW?

  The invasion of Russia 1812 where the French captured Moscow but were forced to retreat and lost most of their army. This was followed by Austria and Prussia again getting involved after being paid by Britain. The Allies slowly pushed him back until he abdicated in 1814
• What did Napoleon do in 1815 of the NW?

  He returned from exile and that led to the 100 days ending in Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo by an Allied Army including Britain, Prussia, Netherlands and German troops
• Who participated in the NW?

  France, Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Spain etc
• Who were the key generals in the NW?

  Napoleon, Davout, Wellington, Mack, Blucher
• Key battles of the NW?

  Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, Borodino, Leipzig, Waterloo
• Outcome of NW?


  A series of French victories until Napoleon's decisive defeat in 1815
• When did the Crimean War start and end?

  1853-1856
• Why did Britain and France declare war on Russia?

  To protect the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire
• In the CW the allies landed troops on the Crimean Peninsula and attempted to do what?

  Capture Sevastopol and its naval base
• What were some of the advantages of the Allies (France, Britain, Turkey) in the CW?

  • steam ships to ensure good supply
  • built a rail line between the port and the front line
  • better weapons technology (rifled muskets, rifled artillery) that allowed them to defeat superior numbers despite poor leadership on both sides
  • French command and organisation were significantly better than Britain's
• What were many deaths due to in the CW?

  disease
• Major battles fought in the CW?

  Alma, Inkermann, Balaclava (Charge of the Light Brigade)
• Why were the Russians unable to use their superiority in numbers in the CW?

  they had a terrible Russian road network and a a lack of rail meant they couldn't get there
• What happened eventually at Sevastopol in the CW?

  they surrendered and the Russians negotiated a peace treaty
• Why did political pressure and public opinion come into play with the commanding generals in the CW?

  the electric telegraph had an impact on the war as news could be relayed back to Britain in days or hours so the public were more informed of the conditions and horrors on the battlefield
• Who was the CW against?

  The allies (Britain, France, Turkey) vs Russia
• Key generals in the CW?

  Lord Raglan and Cardigan
• Key battles in the CW?

  Alma, Inkermann, Balaclava and the siege of Sevastopol
• Who won the CW?

  Allies
• When did the American Civil War start and end?

  1861-1865
• Who was the war between in the ACW?

  The United States of America and the Confederate States of America who had broken away and wished to form a new country