This is for all of my summary notes about “Britain and the French Wars, 1793–1815”. This is from the Edexcel specification for A-Level History.
This document includes information from my own research, books I have read, the main textbook, my teacher and revision guides – it is detailed and...
Britain and the French Wars 1793-
1815
How far was the success of the British army due to the role of Wellington?
RELATIVE STRENGTHS
- France had conscription so could get hundreds of thousands of men. Britain had 40,000 by 1793.
- Had a population x2 of Britain so more choice
- 1775-1783 American War of Independence their navy defeated the British.
- Britain had a modern economy due to Industrial Revolution which transformed manufacturing.
- Could finance more military expenditure by selling Gov stocks to manage national debt.
- 1798 income tax introduced which meant that the war could be financed.
- Financial strength funded the Royal Navy eg: Seven Years War 1756-1763.
-navy protected Britain’s colonies eg: Canada
-British East India Company controlled key areas in India which removed French influence.
- Financial strength allowed coalitions to form with allies (Austria, Prussia, Russia) spent £50million.
-loaned Austria a further £4.6 million.
THE HOME FRONT
- Napoleon’s Continental System didn’t work.
- Cotton exports rose to France as it didn’t have as many ‘spinning jennies’. 1790s only had a few hundred but
Britain had thousands in textile mills.
-British even supplied the cloth for the French uniforms.
- 1799: To help fund the war, the Gov introduced income tax.
-food prices increased
-unemployment rose = more men join the army.
- Farmers sold wheat at high price = relied on high prices = 1815 Corn Laws banning cheaper imports.
- Agrarian revolution modernised agriculture in 1700s so home food production was enough.
Wellington information
- Joined the army in 1787 and purchased commission like many upper-class officers.
- 1797 sent on military duty to India.
- His brother was governor-general and soon relied on Wellington’s military abilities.
- This culminated in 1803 when his 7,000 men attacked an Indian force of 40,000 at Assaye and won.
HIS CHARACTER:
- Known for attention to detail
- Picked battle locations that gave him some advantage
- Believed men should be supplied by the navy rather than living off the land (which isolated the locals).
- Very strict but always ensured that his men were well fed and equipped.
- Quoted as saying “our soldiers are the very scum of the earth” but that “it really is wonderful that we should
have made them the fine fellows that they are”
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