Social Studies 10 Lessons

By: Gen L

Lesson 4: Technological Advances

Tech on the Battlefield: Weaponry

• The Machine Gun
  • Changed the nature of war forever
  • Mowed soldiers down as they advanced
  • Menacingly effective
• The Ross Rifle
  • Issued to replace Lee-Enfield
  • Inferior & frequently jammed
  • Lee-Enfield's stolen from fallen British soldiers replaced Ross Rifle

Tech on the Battlefield: Machines

• Tanks
  • Not effective as strategy not well developed
  • A way to deal with the Machine Gun
• Aeroplanes
  • Used for Reconnaissance (spying) & Fighting
  • Top Allied Ace in WWI was Billy Bishop (Canadian)
• U-Boats
  • Formidable adversary, moving undetected,
  • German U-Boats harassed & destroyed British ships.

Tech on the Battlefield: Bioweaponry Part 1

• Chlorine Gas
  • First Used in Ypres by German Army
  • Created pronounced yellow-green clouds
  • Basically "drowned people from inside".
  • Left a four-mile gap in allied line
  • Allied troops retook position before Germans burst through the gap.

Tech on the Battlefield: Bioweaponry Part 2

• Mustard Gas: Bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide.
  • First used in September, 1917 by German Army
  • Most lethal chemical used, odourless, powerful and effective
  • Remained active in soil for weeks
  • Victim's skin blistered, eyes became sore, caused internal & external bleeding
  • Usually took 4-5 weeks to die of poisoning.

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