The Civil War: An Era Of Modern Technology

The Civil War is often seen as the war that abolished slavery and reunited the North and the South. However, the Civil War was also an era of modern technology, changing styles of art, and breakthroughs in science. Inventions such as the submarine, telegraph, railroads, and the repeating rifles forever altered communication, transportation, and battle. New weapons like the rifle-musket and Minié Bullet are even believed to be responsible for 90% of casualties in the war. One weapon called the Spencer carbine even had the ability to fire seven shots in 30 seconds. But soldiers were not the only people affected by this technological progress. Americans at home were often well informed on the events of the war due to Samuel Morse’s invention of the telegraph. Not only did it allow for swifter communication along battlegrounds but also a rising form of media- the news. …show more content…
Some significant operations and inventions included, amputations, the emerge of plastic surgery, the anesthesia inhaler, and the invention of canned food. With the process of amputating, doctors could hinder the danger of infection by removing the injured area immediately. Union surgeons only lost 25% of their patients as compared to 75% of patients with similar injuries. In addition, people like Doctor Benjamin Howard helped save lives by researching and comprehending the science behind the injury. Howard recognized that in order to heal chest wound, one must create an airtight seal in the opening of the chest cavity which would stop the lungs from collapsing and suffocating the patient. Survival rates have quadrupled ever