High-tech warfare

High-tech warfare.

1. The First Gulf War began the use of high-tech warfare, introducing laser-guided smart bombs - though were mainly defective, with only about 9% of the bombs used being smart bombs.
2. In terms of more modern high-tech warfare - it consists of mainly computerized and technical weapons e.g. night vision, drones and unmanned vehicles. This includes unmanned aerial vehicles, with high-quality cameras and extremely accurate missiles, fired from control stations.
3. Although there has been a lot of high-tech weapons made, with some deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, it hasn't taken away from the importance and dependence of conventional weapons and ground troops in war, show by both the Gulf Wars.

Impact of terrorism, especially 9/11

Impact of terrorism, especially 9/11.

World Trade Center on September 11th 2001.

Terrorism greatly increased as a form of warfare following the middle of the twentieth century up until now. It is a strategic use of terror by the use of violent acts or coercion at targeted areas considered safe by the public. 9/11 is the most significant terrorist attack to this date and still has effects to this day. This attack triggered the "War on Terror", which included the invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban, known al-Qaeda sympathisers; and the Second Gulf War, as the US, among others, thought that Saddam Hussein supported al-Qaeda along with terrorism in general.

Continuing importance of conventional warfare

Continuing importance of conventional warfare.

Conventional warfare still played a role in 21st-century wars such as the Second Gulf War (March 20, 2003 - May 1, 2003), which was an invasion of Iraq by the US, backed by Britain, in 2003. The coalition victory (of US, UK, Australia etc.) was significant as it was due to the deployment of conventional forces and traditional tactics of the second half of the twentieth century. The coalition used air attacks to soften up the Iraqi resitance and support the invasion of land forces.

Emergence of submarines and military aircraft – fighter and bomber planes

Emergence of submarines and military aircraft – fighter and bomber planes.

1. First introduced in 1915, submarines were used a lot during WW1 and 2; U-boats were German submarines that were very effective, able to sink five British cruisers within 10 weeks and were responsible for the loss of 11 million tonnes of allied shipping during the War. Submarine warfare developed significantly during WW2, with the Allies having to adapt to Germany's effective strategies; the Germans used wolf-pack tactics (attacking in big groups) and the U-boats remained successful during early WW2, until.
2. WW1 introduced the first time that aircraft had been used on a large scale. Germany employed Zeppelins for strategic raids over England and the Eastern Front. Aircraft was even more decisive in WW2, with the introduction of Blitzkrieg tactics during the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France, where aircraft worked as flying artillery to quickly disrupt defensive formations.

Methods of warfare including gas, tanks and heavy artillery

Methods of warfare including gas, tanks and heavy artillery.

1. Tanks were introduced by the British during WW1 - hoping that they would be able to crush barbed wire and protect troops from machine gun fire. Tanks were heavily used during Blitzkrieg tactics, most notably by the Nazis, and helped Blitzkrieg become a completely unexpected and new form of warfare. They were the most significant weapon during the time and affected land warfare greatly, providing protection and confidence for troops and being able to travel through almost anything
2. Gas was used a lot during WW1; mostly mustard gas, chlorine, and phosgene. Mustard gas was the most effective, and after Germany had attempted with other gasses they realised that mustard gas was the hardest to detect, and so had the best effect on opponents. Burns from mustard gas were so bad that the result would mean that the soldier likely wouldn't be able to fight again - most of the mustard gas victims died after the attack from secondary infections. Gas was mainly used for physical harm as well as psychological effects, with soldiers always living in fear of a gas attack - only around 3,000 Brits actually died from gas attacks. 
3. Heavy artillery was very important in trench warfare, with infantry attacks rarely being successful if out of range of its artillery. Artillery was used to bombard the enemy infantry in the trenches - mainly firing high explosives, fragmentation, and sometimes gas shells. Heavy artillery was used to fight Blitzkrieg tactics against the Germans in WW2 - heavy guns were used to protect important harbours and coastal areas, usually unable to cope against modern warships and aircraft; the field gun was used by major armies, firing short but heavy shells.

The leisure industry, cinema, Jazz, dancing, sport, radio, advertising and motoring, morals and values and the ‘Monkey Trial’

The leisure industry, cinema, Jazz, dancing, sport, radio, advertising and motoring, morals and values and the ‘Monkey Trial’.

The leisure industry boomed in the 1920s, undergoing huge changes.

1. People simply had more money to spend on leisure during the 20s. Film became the standard form of entertainment across the country - making itself a multi-million dollar industry. Enormous movie theatres were built which could seat as many as 4,000 people. Movies were silent all the way up until the first "talking" picture was made in 1927. Hollywood was the major film-making centre.
2. Jazz music travelled across the US in the 1920s. The style originated from black people, who migrated from the South of the country to the North, spreading the music, as well as the dances (e.g. the Charleston) that came along with the genre - which many considered wild and untraditional. Jazz music began to sell in record form and was performed in clubs across the country, earning large amounts of money and symbolising a new era of freedom to many Americans.
3. Advertising became a huge industry, with billboards, newspapers and magazines spreading across the USA, with the advertisements urging people to spend their money on the newest products. Advertising was extremely successful as people were more willing to spend money at this time, and were more inclined to buy something more expensive due to hire purchase and good times for the economy. 
4. During the 1920s, six US states had banned the teaching of evolution in schools. One of these states was Tennessee, where biology teacher John Scopes taught his pupils the ideas behind evolution. Many Americans were very angry and launched an attack on Scopes and the ideas he taught - with books and publications about evolution eventually being banned in several states. The case went to court, ending up with Scopes being found guilty and fined $100, and with many people outside of the bible belt being shocked at the verdict and response.

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The methods and activities of Martin Luther King

The methods and activities of Martin Luther King.

1. King was influenced by Gandhi, who used non-violent civil disobedience against the British in India. He knew publicly, although non-violently calling the USA out on their hypocrisy would make them look bad.
2. His methods included picketing (standing outside a segregated establishment and telling people not to use it), boycotts, sit-ins, jail-ins (purposely getting arrested until the jails were completely full) and mass marches.
3. King was an influential speaker and was able to convince many people to join his cause because of this. MLK made sure that all of his supporters were non-violent at all times so that it was clear to the public as to who the victims were in the movement. All of his methods were legal.
4. Martin Luther King was one of the only Black leaders of the Civil Rights Movement that was able to appeal to White politicians due to his peaceful methods, and his success at making his opponents look bad and his supporters look good.
5. King was assassinated by a white gunman on April 4, 1968, sparking 100s of extremely violent protests across the US.