The British experience of warfare, c1790–1918 - 2 The Crimean War,…

The idea

This topic examines how public opinion in Britain shifted during the Crimean War, focusing on the roles of William Russell's reporting and Roger Fenton's photography. Early war enthusiasm gave way to criticism as reports exposed logistical failures, poor medical care and command incompetence. Russell's dispatches for The Times described the harsh conditions of soldiers and the suffering at Scutari, shaping a narrative of mismanagement that contributed to the fall of Aberdeen's government in January 1855. Fenton's photographs, taken later under official patronage from March 1855, presented a more controlled view, often omitting dead bodies and emphasising order and heroism. Together, these media influenced public attitudes.

What earns the marks

• Explains how William Russell's reportage for The Times exposed deficiencies in supplies, medical care and leadership, thereby altering public perception from support to criticism.
• Analyses the impact of Roger Fenton's photographs in shaping a sanitised or heroic image of the war, and how this contrasted with written reports.
• Evaluates the extent to which public attitudes changed, considering factors such as censorship, the role of other media and the timing of information reaching Britain.
• Uses specific examples, such as Russell's description of the hospital at Scutari or Fenton's images of camp life, to support arguments about changing attitudes.
• Assesses the limitations of each source, including Fenton's official commission and the delay in publishing photographs, when judging their impact on the public.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating Fenton's photographs as objective documentary evidence.

  Put it right: Recognise that Fenton was officially commissioned and his images were selective, often avoiding scenes of death and suffering.

• Assuming Russell's reports were immediately and universally accepted.

  Put it right: Consider that public opinion was also shaped by other factors, and some initially doubted or ignored his accounts.

• Claiming Fenton's photographs contributed to the fall of Aberdeen's government.

  Put it right: Note that Aberdeen resigned in January 1855, before Fenton began taking his Crimean photographs in March 1855; it was Russell's reporting that influenced the government's collapse.

Exam tips

• When analysing sources, explicitly link their content to changes in public attitudes, using contemporary context such as the role of The Times.
• Compare and contrast the impact of photography and reportage, noting differences in immediacy, emotional appeal and official control.