Royal Navy- Breadth Study 2

during the Age of Sail, how was power shown?

by having many ships of the line

because ships of the line were slow and used for battle, what ships were used out of fleet to fleet battle?

frigates. they had a single gun deck and were more manoeburable

why were the British hesitant to change their ships?

bc the traditional Royal Navy worked and presented what it was to British

why did Britain begin to change its ideas on ships?

during the 19th century when rival powers began to develop their fleet

why were early steam powers bad?

it was slow and unreliable

when did steamships become effective?

on river systems or places without wind

why were paddle wheels unsuitable?

unsuitable for heavy sea and difficult to protect from canon fire and took up valuable broadside space (Hybrid ships were developed for both wind and steam)

how did the innovation of the propellor in the 1830s help?

made ocean going steam power practical. first steam-propelled frigates launched during the 1840s

what new technology was invented for ships?

* shell firing guns invented in the 1820s. France began using in 184 inspriing other fleets
* iron landing for ships thanks to increased iron availability (The first La Gloria launched in 1859). success proved in America civil war
* sails abandoned by the HMS Devastation in 1873
* end of age of sail meant coaling stations were needed

why did the end of the age of sail impact Britains position?

Royal Navy lost its advantage as technological advancement was more important than crew skill. Germany and Japan took over

what was the two power standard? (came from Naval Defence Act 1889)

ensured the British navy was always larger than the next two largest combined

what did John Fisher launch in 1906?

the HMS Dreadnought. a ship so technologically advance that nah navy could challenge them - more successful that the two power standard as Germany and the USA built their own versions

why did the Royal Navy lack sailors?

* poor health and risk of death was high
* harsh disciplines
* cramped living
* £14 a year- equivalent to a servant

what was impressment?

recruiting people into the navy by force to fill the gaps

what was the Blue Water Policy?

the Navy protected traders and disrupted rival trade while the traders funded the navy and supplied men and ships

why was the slave trade viewed as important (despite being unsure) for the royal navy?

Slave trade was see as the ‘nursery for the Royal Navy’ due to the number of experienced sailors it brought. however, this was proven wrong as many were lost to heat and disease.

how many of the 5000 men in 1785 voyage returned in 1788?

2329

why was the royal navy disruptment of the slave trade minimal?

Britain was focused on the Napoleonic Wars. only two ships were give over.

even after peace in Europe, it was still not seen as a priority

why was the West Africa squadron and undesirable posting?

long periods at sea, the heat, mosquitoes and deadly disease

how had the annual number of slaves shipped increased from 1800 to 1830?

1800- 80,000

1830- 135,000

the navy could normally only act if slaves were being carried, how was this used to slave traders advantage?

like in 1831, Spanish slavers threw 150 slaves overboard whilst being chased by the Royal Navy

how many slaves had the navy captured and freed between 1810-1860?

150,000. they were able to do this using steam ships in rivers and blockades

what were the Barbary States?

North African ports like Tunis and Tripoli were pirates and slavers operated out of

who were the Beys?

the pirate rulers who became rich from their share

what did Lord Exmouth do?

went to North Africa and signed treaties with the Beys because the navy was crtiscied for not doing anything to tackle the problem because they had scared them off Britain

what was the Attack on Algiers 1816?

when Exmouth went back to North Africa after 200 Europeans were massacred on the island of Bona. Exmouth bombarded Algiers and freed slaves and terror ransom money

what was the impact of the attack on Algiers?

* not completely effective as the Beys relied on piracy
* however, it showed that the British had assumed the role of a police force, acting for citizens of other countries

why was Captain Cooks voyage 1768-1771 important?

* it showed that it was possible to stay at sea for years without losing too many men to disease if cleanliness and fresh food were maintained
* it proved the effectiveness of new technology like Harrisons watch
* it established claims in Australia and New Zealand
* encouraged counted exploration of the seas

what was the royal Navy’s main aim between 1763-1815?

* the destruction of France and their allies
* defeat of Napoleon in 1815 led to Britain seizing the most valuable bases to protect against any further aggression

why was Gibraltar a god country to have access to?

they could control access to the Mediterranean Sea (controlled France movements between its western and southern coasts)

how did Britain afire Gibraltar as a base in 1783?

* France entered war against America in 1778 and slipped through the strait of Gibraltar allowing it to match the Royal Navy in the Atlantic Ocean
* Gibraltar was ganged up on by the French, Spanish and Dutch
* Gibraltar managed to grow enough food to keep going and held out until the end of the war in 1783

why was the retention of Gibraltar key for British strategy and defence?

the retention showed the importance of the strategically placed port for the navy. it later resupplied Nelson fleet before the battle of Trafalgar. they weren’t going to give it up

which three bases in 1815 were acquired for stategic and defence?

Malta, Ceylon and Cape Town

how had the British initially acquired Ceylon?

they forced the Netherlands to hand it over to them for protection

why was Ceylon important?

* trading ports
* colony was one of the only sources of cinnamon (extremely valuable)

how did Britain secure Ceylon?

Frances puppet Ruth gov ordered the governor of Ceylon to ally with France but faced with British naval might, the Dutch surrendered Ceylon

why did the British want Cape Town?

it held no economic signicnace except for its position on the trade route to the East Indies.

strategically important as they could prevent enemy shipping from sailing between the Indian and Atlantic sea cutting off a major trade root

how did Britains view of Malta change?

not initially viewed as important as the royal navy preferred Gibraltar

however, the deep water port and welcoming population became useful especially with the opening of the Suez

what did the royal navy prioritise in 1815-1850?

years of peace so trade roots established. promotion of free trade

why was the falklands an important place for Britain?

* the seal colonies
* Vernet wanted to preserve the seals for his own use and confiscated three American sealing ships in 1831

how did Britain acquire the Falklands in 1833?

they were worried about Vernet so they sent a single ship to reassert British sovereignty in. Vernet surrendered without a fight

why was Aden seen as important to Britain?

* British governor of Bombay, Sir Robert Grant, believed that Britain should seize places of interest
* Aden served as a coaling station for steamships between the Suez and Bombay

how did Britain acquire Aden in 1839?

* the sultan was seen as a pirate for messing with British shipping
* Commander Haines arrived in Aden in 1837 to secure satisfaction for the Sultans actions
* Haines twisted the wording in his letter stating he had consent to occupy Aden

how did the acquisition of Cyprus in 1878 present a new way of thinking?

territory taken to guard existing territory rather than for commercial gain.

why did Britain acquire Cyprus in 1878?

* a base in the Mediterranean from which the Royal Navy could monitor any Russian expansion and protect the Suez Canal (after the defeat f the ottoman empire in 1877, Russia threatened to take Constantinople which would give Russia access to the Mediterranean)