Victorian Britain: Railways, Communication, and Conflicts

The Railway Revolution in Britain

During this period, the development of the railway was profoundly important. It contributed to maintaining peace and diminishing unemployment rates, as railways employed individuals who were at an age when finding work was typically difficult; these workers were known as “navvies”. By 1851, there were already 10,000 km of open tracks operating, making Britain the first nation in the world to possess such an extensive railway network. However, the construction of these tracks was very expensive and required significant land acquisition.

Societal Transformations Driven by Railways

This extensive construction provoked significant changes in people’s lives:

• Changes in Daily Life: The Phenomenon of Commuting
  With the growth of suburbs in many cities, a large number of people began to use the train for daily travel.
• Creation of the Official Postal Service: The Penny Post
  In combination with railways, the official postal service was established, known at the time as the Penny Post. Trains were extensively used to transport mail across the country.
• Standardized Time Across the Nation
  For the first time in history, a single official time was adopted everywhere, standardized to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), based on Big Ben in London.
• Development of the Electric Telegraph
  The Electric Telegraph also saw significant development, often utilizing railway infrastructure; its poles frequently followed railway lines. Initially, a single wire was needed, but this technology evolved with the invention of Morse code.

Thus, railways and the telegraph became the two primary modes of communication during this era.

British Military Engagements (1815-1914)

It is also important to note that Britain was involved in several military affairs between the Battle of Waterloo and World War I. Particular attention should be paid to conflicts in Crimea and India.

The Crimean War (1854-1856)

The Crimean War was fought on a peninsula in the Black Sea, where Britain, in cooperation with France, engaged in conflict against Russia from 1854 to 1856.

Causes of the Crimean War

The war against Russia in Crimea stemmed from the rapid disintegration of the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire. Other nations sought to gain from the decline of this empire, and Russia, in particular, aimed to expand its influence.

Strategic Concerns: Protecting India

Britain opposed Russia's territorial ambitions due to strategic concerns regarding India, the “Jewel in the Crown” of the British Empire. Britain had previously invaded Afghanistan in the 1840s, an endeavor that resulted in the disastrous Khabul Retreat and left Britain unable to maintain troops there. Afghanistan was the only buffer territory between India and Russia, and from a strategic perspective, Russian expansion into former Ottoman territories made little sense for British interests.

Consequences and Army Inefficiency

Although Britain emerged victorious, the results of the war were costly. Many poor decisions were made, which starkly exposed the inefficiency of the British Army.

British Army's Structural Flaws

The Army remained largely unchanged since the Napoleonic Wars; few reforms meant many officers were elderly and resistant to new tactics. The main commander, Lord Raglan, still viewed the French as adversaries, despite their alliance in this conflict. Younger officers were often incompetent because promotions in the Army were frequently purchased rather than earned through merit.