Deck 2: The Evolution of Modern Warfare, Michael Sheehan

Question 1

Napoleon introduced the ____, essentially a small army of up to 50,000 men including artillery, cavalry, and infantry units that was capable of fighting on its own.

A) corps
B) brigade
C) division
D) battalion

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The Napoleonic style of warfare was characterized by which of the following?

A) Outmanoeuvring opponents so as to obtain victory without battle
B) Relying on mass production to create an army of minimal size but high quality
C) Mass armies and seeking decisive battle so as to destroy the enemy's army and render him unable to offer effective resistance
D) Defensive warfare, using guerrilla forces to wear down the enemy

Answer 2

C

Question 3

During the modern era, ideology, particularly nationalism, waned in importance in comparison to previous eras.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

According to Strategy in the Contemporary World, all of the following are distinctions between modern wars and postmodern wars, except

A) modern wars were fought by formally organized, hierarchically structured, specialized armed forces of the state, while postmodern wars are fought by a disparate array of fighting forces, many of which are informal or private.
B) in modern wars, militaries had to rely on low-tech weaponry, while postmodern wars fought since the end of the cold war have been characterized by the employment of cutting-edge high-tech weaponry.
C) modern wars pursued perceived national interests, while postmodern wars are often focused on 'identity politics'.
D) in modern wars, military forces were maintained by state-based production and financing at the national level, while postmodern wars are supported by local or global private production and finance networks.

Question 5

During the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution had only a very limited impact on land warfare. Innovations such as mass production, railways, and the telegram played no part in strategy until World War I, which began in 1914.

Question 6

In The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783, an influential work of history and strategic theory, Alfred Thayer Mahan argued that

A) unrestricted submarine warfare was a critical key to victory in future naval conflicts.
B) Great Britain had devoted too many resources to building warships during the 1660-1783 period.
C) Both A and B are correct.
D) Neither A nor B is correct.

Question 7

During the nineteenth century, a number of technical innovations, such as the use of steam power, armouring of warships, and the use of heavy guns with explosive shells, greatly impacted naval warfare.

Question 8

Key elements of total war began to emerge in the First World War (1914-18) and peaked during the Second World War (1939-45).

Question 9

Some of the key characteristics of total war include

A) no legal declaration of war.
B) maximum mobilization of economic, human, and military resources.
C) systemic use of censorship and propaganda.
D) Both B and C are correct.

Question 10

During the cold war period, the following types of conflicts were common:

A) 'Total' wars
B) 'Limited' wars
C) Wars of insurgency and counterinsurgency
D) Both B and C are correct.