The purpose of this Tour Guide is to introduce you to the Crimean War, how it contributed to the Age of Bismarck and challenge you to consider why this war is worth studying even after more than 150 years. Is there anything in there for you to bring back to your 2005 world?

Each of the activities asks you to locate information about the Crimean War, using a variety of online resources.

Take time to , and the resources on this page and think about why it could be relevant for you to study this time in history. Several resources in this web page will lead you to examine the role that foreign correspondents have in accurately communicating the stories of war to readers at home and will reveal how these stories have sometimes been misrepresented to us in the name of nationalism. Philosopher, Morris R. Cohen tells us that "The facts of history do not change" and that "What happens cannot unhappen". If this is so, what political prejudices and personal motivations might get in the way of delivering an authentic portrayal of history? Find out how political prejudices and personal motivations can muddy the facts and because of this, how important it is to think critically about what you read.

It is not necessary for you to read everything within the resources below. Check the questions and look for the information needed to answer the questions. Having said that, don't stop reading as soon as you find an answer. Reading further may help you answer with more clarity.

1. What caused the Crimean War to begin?
2. Would you consider this a religious war? Why or why not?
3. What three disadvantages did the British army confront at the The Battle of Alma?

1. Why did the British troops suffer immense casualties in 1854?
2. Describe the old-style diplomacy referred to in the section on the Eastern Question.
3. How did this old-style diplomacy impact the people of the Balkans?

1. The interpretation of the order to The Battle of the Light Brigade has been subject to much controversy and speculation over the years. Why?

1. What was the purpose of the Treaty of Paris (1856)?
2. Tell three outcomes of the Treaty of Paris

1. Why was Turkey referred to as the 'sick man of Europe'?
2. Many wars have been fought on the grounds of the strategic importance of a region; many wars have been fought over religious differences. The Crimean War was the result of both factors. After reading this page, explain this statement.

1. Click on the Florence Nightingale link and read about Nightingale's life.
2. Here, it tells us that 'when Florence Nightingale returned from the Crimean War in August 1856, four months after the peace treaty was signed, she hid herself away from the public's attention.' Why? (Go to the resource center and read 'Image and Reality')

1. Go to: http://usearch.cc.columbia.edu/cicat/frame.html 
2. This audio slideshow describes the earliest days of war correspondence, beginning in the 1840s when British newspapers sent journalists to report on the Crimean War.
3. Why did The Time newspaper begin to send special war correspondents to sites of war?

1. This article tells about William Howard Russell, “the world’s first war correspondent.” Russell was sent to report accurately, the war happenings. Did he fulfill this role? Why or why not?
2. What does the author of this article mean by 'But surely the most depressing and enduring lesson of Russell and the Light Brigade is the danger of writing up war as spectacle.'?

1. This poem clearly expresses Tennyson's view that the soldiers in this battle were walking into a sure death. Find four phrases that communicates that and write them down.
2. Can you find examples of onomatopoeia and alliteration in this poem?
3. Tennyson uses the same lines to open both stanza 3 and stanza 5. Why do you think he repeated these lines, particularly the word 'cannon'? Silently tap out the rhythm of these words on your desk with your fingers. What effect was he trying to achieve?

1. View this five minute video of the 1936 movie, The Charge of the Light Brigade.
2. This movie served as a way to idealize and romanticize this war. What do you think of this? Explain your thoughts.

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Why The Charge of the Light Brigade Still Matters

Activity:

1. On the 150th anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade, why should anyone still be interested in what was a relatively minor military blunder in a war long since overshadowed by the slaughter of the First and Second World Wars?
2. History often gets re-interpreted over time. This article provides examples of this. Share two.
3. Many men were prepared during the Crimean War to exhibit 'unthinking bravery'. Do you think today's young men would do this? Why or why not?

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The First Casualty

Activity:

1. 'The first casualty when war comes, is truth,' said American Senator Hiram Johnson in 1917, What does this mean?
2. What would cause journalists to misrepresent the truth when reporting a war?
3. During the First World War, Prime Minister David Lloyd George told C P Scott, editor of the Manchester Guardian: 'If the people really knew [the truth] the war would be stopped tomorrow. But of course they don't know and can't know.' What does this mean?

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Conclusion

While exploring this sampler on the Crimean War, we hope you've had fun, learned, and been challenged to view news stories with a more critical eye.

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Mr. B. Kinnie       brad.kinnie@masters.ab.ca  http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/sambalancebr.html   Last revised Tue May 3 11:38:38 US/Pacific 2005