Napoleonic Warfare Evolution

1117 Words3 Pages

Every organism has a critical stage in evolution when it develops characteristics that define that species. In human evolution, this critical stage is the Homo erectus stage. This is the stage when modern human-like body structions such as elongated legs and shorter arms relative to the size of the upper body first appeared. For warfare, the critical stage is Napoleonic era. The development in the warfare during the Napoleonic era is the foundation of today’s warfare. Although, there have been significant improvements in technology and weaponry since the Napoleonic era, the key features of warfare remain the same. The key feature of today’s warfare evolves from the warfare in the Napoleonic era includes universal conscriptions, force structure, …show more content…

In 1793, France was fighting multiple enemies, including a majority of Europe and counter-revolution insurrections. The French Republic tried to expand the army through volunteerism, but was unsuccessful. This prompted the French National Convention to institute conscription. The conscription was effective because most French people who supported the revolution had a stake in the survival of their Republic. , They saw the conscription as part of the national defense effort and viewed the military as an instrument of the public purpose and of the public’s collective aspirations and interest, not the king’s aspirations. , The armies come from the general population, and the population was willing to contribute larger contributions to fund the war because they have a stake in the aspiration of the Republic and survival of their republic. It is no longer the military of the aristocrats and monarch, but the armies of the people where all male citizens are eligible for all ranks and careers in military. One of the people that benefits from the changes in this new French army is …show more content…

Several of this concepts are still the same in today’s military. First, the concept of universal conscription is still the main process that most nations build their armed forces in today’s world. Second, all [male] citizens are eligible for all ranks and careers in military in today’s military. This is a practice that was initated during the Napoleonic era as a result of the transformation of the armed forces from being a private property of the aristocrats and monarch to property of the nation. Finally, the financing of war and armed forces in today’s warfare is still through the resources of the public. A practice which was started during Napoleonic era as a result of the idea of armies belong to the people that was introduced by the French National Convention in

Open Document