Crimea and the Civil War: The Medical Connection between Great Britain and the Union Army

Authors

Adam Green, Brigham Young University

Keywords

Crimean War, British army, Union Army

Abstract

One decade before the Civil War began, a modest and relatively obscure war was fought halfway around the world. The Crimean War was an eye-opener for the British as a whole. The inadequate supplies, wretched living conditions, and poor sanitation that the British army suffered resulted in tremendous losses during the war. The reports of these circumstances launched one of the most profound and widespread medical reform campaigns that the British army had experienced up to that point. The instigation of proper sanitary care, the introduction of Florence Nightingale onto the international stage, and the revamping of the British medical corps were direct results of this war. In the end, the British cut their mortality rates from 73 percent to around 2 percent. Though small in scale, the effects of the Crimean War inspired massive changes in the Union army ten years later.

Recommended Citation

Green, Adam (2000) "Crimea and the Civil War: The Medical Connection between Great Britain and the Union Army," The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 29: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol29/iss1/4