industrialisation & technology (FRW)

• Advantages in industry?


  They made more effective use of industry in this period. By 1809 workshops in St Etienne were producing 97000 handguns per year compared to 20000 in previous years. A Parisian factory was able to produce 700 muskets per day- more than the rest of Europe combined
• Advantages in tech?


  Rather primitive- mostly same weapons- the musket and socket bayonet. They did make better use of their new lighter artillery which was more accurate, more mobile and more powerful. This was a huge reason for victory at Valmy in 1792.
• Impact on nature?


  The constant supply of weapons allowed them to fight a series of continuing battles- an advantage over enemies (this also relied upon quantity of soldiers they were able to call upon)- in the early 1970s they we’re fighting average of 3 battles a week
• Impact on outcome?


  Able to supply huge forces effectively which allowed them to fight across a huge geographic span, it was ultimately weight in numbers and effective generalship that won them many wars they fought
• AFTER the FRW what new tech developed?

  • Steam engine, electric telegraph, mass produced rifled musket created from industrial revolution which had big impact on land warfare
  • Steam engine and electric telegraph= big impact on strategy. Allowed troops and resources to be mobilised at a faster rate and travel further (GWU). Telegraph allowed men to be mobilised more effectively allowing far greater communication- impact on planning battles, campaigns and wars
  • mass production of rifled musket- forces equipped with weapon with greater accuracy, range and rate of fire which impacted tactics