To what extent did superior economic power determine the outcome of wars in the period 1792-1945?
● There is evidence to suggest that superior economic power was crucial in determining the outcome of
wars in the period
○ Economic Power: The industrial and financial strength of a nation
● Certainly evidence to support the view, as when wars became drawn out as the inability of the inferior
economic power to sustain military and civilian needs over an extended period of time inevitably led to
defeat
● However, there is convincing evidence to suggest that in shorter conflicts, it was the disparity in quality
of weapons that determined the outcome
● That said, it seems clear that economic superiority remained the most decisive factor in shorter wars as
the industrial strength of nations determined whether or not they had superior weapons.
Throughout the period, disparities in economic power did determine the outcome of wars when they
became drawn out
● American Civil War (1881-65) - Union financial superiority over Confederacy
○ Perhaps most strikingly, While the Union was able to maintain a relatively robust economy
throughout the war
■ (thanks to the success of the 1862 Legal Tender Act which ensured a dependable
currency for both business and military activity)
○ By contrast, the Confederate economy was crippled over the course of the war as a result of its
self-imposed cotton embargo and severe inflation caused by the 20-fold increase in the amount
of money in circulation
■ ⇒ This as of considerable importance, as by 1865 Confederacy did not have the
resources to maintain sufficient military resistance, forcing Lee to surrender at
Appomattox in April 1865
● Napoleonic Wars - Similarly, during the Napoleonic wars the threat of Britain's industrial and financial
superiority meant that Napoleon attempted to isolate Britain from the continent via the 1806 Berlin
Decree, aiming to weaken Britain's financial position and cause social unrest.
○ However, this resulted in economic ruin for France as the blockading of French ports by the
Royal Navy from 1806, combined with the drain of as many as 300,000 French troops during
the Peninsular War over 6 years from 1808 caused by Britain's anger over the naval blockade.
■ ⇒ Hence it is clear that Britain's economic strength and Napoleon's attempt to combat
it was decisive in Napoleon's ultimate downfall as it led to economic ruin and draining
campaigns for Napoleon.
● World War I
○ 1917 Entente produced 65% of world industrial output, whilst central powers only 19%, meant
Germany was forced to allocate 85% on military to maintain a sufficient defense whilst only
spending 2% on civilians, leading to German surrender after 760,000 citizens starved to death
In addition, the ability of the state to equip its army with the latest weaponry due to its economic
strength was decisive
● Franco-Prussian War
○ For example, during the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, Prussia's strong industrial base was key in
providing the Prussian army with the superior weaponry that gave them victory against France
in 1870.
■ 400 standardised and precision engineered breech-loaded steel cannons, which
proved decisive at Metz and Sedan, were produced by the Krupp AG manufacturers
which were embedded in Prussia's developed industrial base
● However, perhaps the most striking example of superior weaponry determining the outcome of war
comes at the end of the period in the Second World War (1939-45).
○ The ability of the USA to invest in the $2 billion Manhattan Project resulted in the development
of the atomic bomb, which was striking in ensuring final victory as Japan surrendered
unconditionally following the dropping of two Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in
August 1945, which alone caused over 145,000 deaths
● There is evidence to suggest that superior economic power was crucial in determining the outcome of
wars in the period
○ Economic Power: The industrial and financial strength of a nation
● Certainly evidence to support the view, as when wars became drawn out as the inability of the inferior
economic power to sustain military and civilian needs over an extended period of time inevitably led to
defeat
● However, there is convincing evidence to suggest that in shorter conflicts, it was the disparity in quality
of weapons that determined the outcome
● That said, it seems clear that economic superiority remained the most decisive factor in shorter wars as
the industrial strength of nations determined whether or not they had superior weapons.
Throughout the period, disparities in economic power did determine the outcome of wars when they
became drawn out
● American Civil War (1881-65) - Union financial superiority over Confederacy
○ Perhaps most strikingly, While the Union was able to maintain a relatively robust economy
throughout the war
■ (thanks to the success of the 1862 Legal Tender Act which ensured a dependable
currency for both business and military activity)
○ By contrast, the Confederate economy was crippled over the course of the war as a result of its
self-imposed cotton embargo and severe inflation caused by the 20-fold increase in the amount
of money in circulation
■ ⇒ This as of considerable importance, as by 1865 Confederacy did not have the
resources to maintain sufficient military resistance, forcing Lee to surrender at
Appomattox in April 1865
● Napoleonic Wars - Similarly, during the Napoleonic wars the threat of Britain's industrial and financial
superiority meant that Napoleon attempted to isolate Britain from the continent via the 1806 Berlin
Decree, aiming to weaken Britain's financial position and cause social unrest.
○ However, this resulted in economic ruin for France as the blockading of French ports by the
Royal Navy from 1806, combined with the drain of as many as 300,000 French troops during
the Peninsular War over 6 years from 1808 caused by Britain's anger over the naval blockade.
■ ⇒ Hence it is clear that Britain's economic strength and Napoleon's attempt to combat
it was decisive in Napoleon's ultimate downfall as it led to economic ruin and draining
campaigns for Napoleon.
● World War I
○ 1917 Entente produced 65% of world industrial output, whilst central powers only 19%, meant
Germany was forced to allocate 85% on military to maintain a sufficient defense whilst only
spending 2% on civilians, leading to German surrender after 760,000 citizens starved to death
In addition, the ability of the state to equip its army with the latest weaponry due to its economic
strength was decisive
● Franco-Prussian War
○ For example, during the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, Prussia's strong industrial base was key in
providing the Prussian army with the superior weaponry that gave them victory against France
in 1870.
■ 400 standardised and precision engineered breech-loaded steel cannons, which
proved decisive at Metz and Sedan, were produced by the Krupp AG manufacturers
which were embedded in Prussia's developed industrial base
● However, perhaps the most striking example of superior weaponry determining the outcome of war
comes at the end of the period in the Second World War (1939-45).
○ The ability of the USA to invest in the $2 billion Manhattan Project resulted in the development
of the atomic bomb, which was striking in ensuring final victory as Japan surrendered
unconditionally following the dropping of two Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in
August 1945, which alone caused over 145,000 deaths
