Historians consider the Crimean War from 1854 to 1856 as the turning point in the politics of the great European powers in the 19th century. This research paper examines why and how this war happened and what the consequences were for Europe and especially for the foreign policy of Britain. It is driven by the thesis that the Crimean War was changing the policies of the European powers significantly to a new aggressive behaviour.
Therefore it is divided into three chapters. The first chapter deals with the question why the Crimean War broke out and how Britain became involved. Chapter II discusses the main events in the war. It does not look only on Britain’s policies, but also focuses on Austria-Hungary which played a key role in the war. The third and last chapter shows how the war affected the policies of the European powers. Especially the impacts on the British Empire are pointed out. This research paper is based on a comprehensive bibliography containing primary and secondary sources and a scientific article on the topic.
The majors works used for this paper are David Wetzel’s The Crimean War and Paul W. Schroeder’s Austria, Great Britain and the Crimean War. 1 David Wetzel. The Crimean War: A Diplomatic History. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1985), p. v. 2 Paul W. Schroeder. Austria, Great Britain and the Crimean War: The Destruction of the European Concert. (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1972), p. xi. 3 This research paper is written in the course „British History of the 19th and 20th Centuries” at Vesalius College Brussels. Therefore it will have a focus in all chapters on British opinion, policy and impacts of the British Empire.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. ROAD TO PERDITION: FROM THE DISPUTE OVER THE HOLY PLACES TO THE ULTIMATUM BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE TO RUSSIA (1852 – 1854)
2. THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA (1854 – 1856)
3. THE IMPACTS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR ON EUROPE AND BRITAIN’S NEW ISOLATIONIST POLICY
CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
This research paper examines the origins and consequences of the Crimean War (1854–1856), specifically focusing on its transformative impact on British foreign policy and the broader European international system. It argues that the war triggered a shift among European powers toward a more aggressive, interest-driven political behavior.
- The diplomatic breakdown leading to the Crimean War and Britain's involvement.
- The military and diplomatic trajectory of the conflict, including the role of Austria-Hungary.
- The erosion of the "Concert of Europe" and the rise of power politics.
- The emergence of Britain’s "splendid isolation" and its long-term effects on European stability.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Road to Perdition: From the Dispute over the Holy Places to the Ultimatum by Britain and France to Russia (1852 – 1854)
The independence of the Ottoman Empire was a vital element of British policy in the 19th century. The British Empire had important commercial interests in this region. It had a unique standing in the Middle East, because after the Convention of Balta Limam in 1838 Britain gained the right to free-trade into the Ottoman Empire. This special relationship grew quickly into political importance. As the historian David Wetzel judges: “Turkey was a good customer, therefore a good friend.”
Hence the British Empire looked with serious concern to the so-called “Eastern Crisis” of 1853. The crisis had its roots in 1952 when the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christians had a dispute over the Holy Places in Palestine. The Catholic Church was backed by France under emperor Napoleon III, while the arch-conservative Tsar Nicholas I and his Russian Empire wanted the Ottomans – who owned Palestine by that time – to hand over the keys to of the Holy Places to the Orthodox Christians.
The Ottomans did not really care about the trouble between the Christians and they tried to do their best to avoid serious trouble by their usual dodging and procrastination. But strong pressure from France forced them to make a decision about the dispute.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter outlines the thesis that the Crimean War acted as a turning point in 19th-century European politics, signaling a shift from the Concert of Europe to a new era of aggressive power dynamics.
1. ROAD TO PERDITION: FROM THE DISPUTE OVER THE HOLY PLACES TO THE ULTIMATUM BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE TO RUSSIA (1852 – 1854): This chapter details the geopolitical origins of the war, beginning with the dispute over the Holy Places and the subsequent breakdown of diplomacy between Russia, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and France.
2. THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA (1854 – 1856): This section analyzes the military developments of the conflict and the critical diplomatic role played by Austria-Hungary, as well as the transition of the war into a broader European struggle.
3. THE IMPACTS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR ON EUROPE AND BRITAIN’S NEW ISOLATIONIST POLICY: This chapter discusses the long-term consequences of the war, including the collapse of the Concert of Europe, the unification processes in Germany and Italy, and Britain's shift toward "splendid isolation."
CONCLUSION: The conclusion summarizes how the Crimean War's legacy paved the way for future aggressive power politics, ultimately contributing to the conditions that led to World War I.
Keywords
Crimean War, British Foreign Policy, Ottoman Empire, Concert of Europe, Tsar Nicholas I, Lord Palmerston, Splendid Isolation, Eastern Question, Holy Places, Power Politics, Diplomacy, European Stability, Austria-Hungary, Prussian Unification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the Crimean War as a pivotal historical event that dismantled the existing international order and significantly altered the foreign policy trajectories of the Great European powers.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work covers the diplomatic failures leading to the war, the shift in political behavior from restraint to aggression, and the long-term geopolitical impacts on the British Empire and continental Europe.
What is the main thesis of the research?
The author argues that the Crimean War acted as the catalyst that shifted European diplomacy from a system of cooperative restraint to one defined by national self-interest and aggressive power politics.
Which scientific methods were utilized?
The paper employs a comprehensive analysis of primary and secondary historical sources, focusing on diplomatic records and expert historical interpretations to reconstruct the political climate of the 19th century.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body investigates the origins of the "Eastern Crisis," the military and diplomatic events during the conflict, and the subsequent transformation of European policies post-1856.
Which terms best characterize this academic study?
Key terms include "Splendid Isolation," "Concert of Europe," "Eastern Question," and "Aggressive Power Politics."
How did the war affect the status of the Ottoman Empire?
Although the Ottoman Empire was formally integrated into the Concert of Europe through the Peace of Paris, the study notes that this was largely symbolic, as the system of the Concert had already effectively collapsed.
What impact did the war have on Britain's international stance?
The war eventually led Britain to adopt a policy of "splendid isolation," retreating from direct continental interventions and focusing on internal developments, which the author suggests may have inadvertently allowed for the rise of a powerful Germany.
- Quote paper
- Christian Pfeiffer (Author), 2005, The Crimean War and its Impacts on Britain and Europe, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/36672
