The Crimean War (1853 - 1856)

The Crimean War took place between October of 1853 and lasted until February of 1856. The conflict only lasted a few years. However, this does not exclude the severity of the war and the devastation it caused for many. Most of the war happened on the Crimean Peninsula, and was between the Russians, the Ottoman Empire (Turkish), the French, and the British. “The war arose from the conflict of great powers in the Middle East and was more directly caused by Russian demands to exercise protection over the Orthodox subjects of the Ottoman sultan. Another major factor was the dispute between Russia and France over the privileges of the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in the holy places in Palestine” (Ray 2022). While both sides were motivated to win the war to neutralize the Baltic Sea, war efforts were managed poorly from all sides. Diseases were one of the biggest causes of death during the three years and resulted in approximately 250,000 casualties per side. Nurses like Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale are well-known for their efforts in helping during this war. The war did many things and affected people across the world in varying ways. However, some businesses like The Illustrated London News benefited from such coverage. Through glorifying British success in the war and from the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the newspaper company was able to double their reader’s coverage and boosted their popularity. They fed the people what they wanted to here and contributed to spreading the concept of toxic patriotism. In a publication made in London on July 12, 1856, we see the newspaper highlighting the returning home of the soldiers from the Crimean War, and affectively honoring the conquest of the war. The name of the publication is Return of Troops From The Crimea. On the front page of the newspaper, we see “The Return Of The Guards. The remnant of as gallant and as glorious an army as ever drew sword or discharged rifle in the cause of England has returned home – laden with glory” (London News 25). This is significant to the event of January 6, 2021, the storming of the United States Capital Building, because it shows the glorification of war and the overuse of pride towards one’s own nation. Through the extensive prideful propaganda that was spread by The Illustrated London News throughout the entire Crimean War and to the end with this specific newspaper page that I have linked here, we see how desire for war, conflict, and further conquering of other places was spread and emphasized. This is toxic for others and caused war and death and gives people the mindset and motivation to do events like January 6, 2021. We see this pridefulness in the soldiers during the war from a firsthand accounting in letters from Fanny Duberly, who was in Crimea with her husband Henry Duberly in 1854. In the quote, “In contrast to her stinging criticisms of British leadership, Fanny’s accounts of the courage of British regulars amidst enormous physical suffering were heartfelt and moving” (Kelly 3), we see how soldiers continued onward, no matter what, in any condition to conquer the world and serve in war for Great Britain.

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The Crimean War (1853 - 1856)

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