What is the historical significance of the crimean war?

Answer 1

The Crimean War was significant in several ways.

For one, the power structure of the European countries was redefined. the peace settlement at the end of the war, pretty much completely withdrew Russian power from the Balkans. The provinces of Moldavia and Walachia were united as Romania, and became an independent nation. When Austria had refused to help Russia during the war, their alliance was cut short. The Crimean War had embarrassed France and left Russia and Austria a lot weaker, which served as an advantage to Germany (exactly what the German statesman Bismarck had wanted).

On the other hand, the Crimean War was also a demonstration of modern warfare. The war had the first significant use of rifled muskets, underwater mines, and trench warfare, as well as the first use of railroads and telegraphs for war purposes.

In addition to this, this war was covered by the first modern war correspondents and photojournalists, making it the first public war. Reports from the battlefield sent live updates by telegraph to Britain and France with great, but objective, detail. The London Times reporter William Howard Russell took the war as a chance to criticize the government for the horrible conditions British soldiers endured. The care of the troops then became national scandals in the press and prompted great changes in the military's systems. Roger Fenton, a prominent war photographer, documented war progress and captured the reality of war. This was significant in how it brought a new level of realism and immediacy to the public's conception of war.