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Question: Regarding War Casualties: What factors account for the upswing of casualties from the 18th to 20th century!?
Consider all factors!.!.!.economic, technological, social, geopolitical, intellectual, and other factors!.

Any ideas help! Thanks :)Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I believe that the singlemost important factor would be Logistics!. In the past, generally only neighboring countries would have large battles!. Otherwise, they had to load troops on ships, and make long, dangerous journey across seas!. That didnt stop wars, but it limited their scale!. With the invention of mechanized transport, airplanes, ships with combustion engines, etc, it became a lot easier to move troops and equipment very long distances!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's mostly technological / intellectual advances!. The major factor was that weaponry became MUCH MORE accurate!. Although a good thing when one is fighting a war, in general, this causes MUCH MORE death!. A great example is the machine gun [invented before World War I]!. If you compare the American Civil War to the First World War, the different types of weapons used correlate to the # of casualties!. [** But keep in mind that approximately 1/2 of all Civil War deaths were caused by infection since doctors did not yet know about sterilization, etc]Www@QuestionHome@Com

Advances in the technology of warfare just as other technologies and a greater tendency toward total war!. Both increased casualties!.!.!.!.!.The great killer of the American Civil War was the rifled musket!. WWI was artillery and machine guns!.!.!.!.these are just two examples!. Aircraft bombing played a minor part in WWI but a major in WWII!.!.!.!.!.!.Willingness to attack civilian populations as part of total war!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

it would be technological!. look at some of the weapons systems we can employ!. they include everything from the stealth fighter to the !.50 caliber sniper rifle!. special operations units (navy seals, army special forces, etc!.) can be called on to perform missions not considered possible in 1940!. in these units, personnel process all of the traits you mentioned!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The DECLINE during the latter part of this time - since about 1950 - is also a phenominal trend!. This is due to the advance in medical tecniques, especially the start of MASH units (not just a TV show, but a real medical advance) on the field of battle!. If you compare the survival rates for Vietnam vs!. WW2, you'd see a dramatic difference!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The machine gun, the airplane, dynamite and other high explosives, breech-loading, rapid-fire artillery; in short, military technology had the most to do with it!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would assume it definitely would be because of technological advances in weapons (such as bombing) and intel or better strategies in attacks and counter attackes!.

I hope this helps!. Good luck!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

number one reason would be the industrial revolution!. particularly the ability to mass produce weapons with standardized ammunition and interchangeable parts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com