New Military Technology Created During the Civil War In over eighty years between the American Revolution and the start of the Civil War, weapon technology had advanced greatly. Technological advancements like Eli Whitney’s interchangeable parts in 1797 helped in efficiently and quickly producing 10,000 muskets for the U.S. army using standardized parts and making them interchangeable. Before his invention muskets had been made by a single person without any standardized measurements making the manufacturing slow and time consuming. This was just one invention that would help in creating a platform for new innovations to come throughout the civil war era, including the rifle. The American Civil War in 1861-1865 was considered to be a modern
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The introduction of steam power revolutionized Naval Forces around the world. The first steam powered ship was created for the U.S. Navy in 1815 by Robert Fulton. In 1850 the U.S. Navy started to make all new warships with steam engines and this would power the ironclads that would be used later on in the civil war. In the late 1850’s cannon manufacturing was on the rise enabling military forces more accurate, longer-ranged guns (Civil War Trust, Steel & Steam: Naval Technology in the Civil War Era: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/navy-hub/navy-history/steel-steam.htm , Rodger A. Bailey, 2014). The guns created would help the amplification of exsplovie shells in 1820 and because of the destructive force these shells could make in wooden ships, Ironclad ships had born. Ironclad ships made ammunition casings bounce off and because of their tremendous weight; steam powered engines were used to move them across oceans. In March 1862 at the Battle of Hampton Roads Union Vessel Monitor and the Confederate vessel Merrimac was the first demonstration of the superiority of ironclads over wooden ships and thus would revolutionize naval warfare forever. (Foner, Give Me Liberty, pg.504). When iron was scarce, other ways were needed to protect and defend their ports. Torpedoes allowed surprise attacks underneath the ironclads where they were more vulnerable. Southerners needed a counter attack so they invented the Submarine. While only one submarine proved to be successful during the Civil War (the H.L. Hunley, which sank the USS Housatonic in 1864) they would make their comeback during World War 1 and are still being used in Navy warfare to this day. The use of steel and iron in innovations like the ironclad, torpedoes, and submarines during the civil war helped pave the way for today’s naval ships. They are built stronger than ever and can withstand more impacts from
The introduction of steam power revolutionized Naval Forces around the world. The first steam powered ship was created for the U.S. Navy in 1815 by Robert Fulton. In 1850 the U.S. Navy started to make all new warships with steam engines and this would power the ironclads that would be used later on in the civil war. In the late 1850’s cannon manufacturing was on the rise enabling military forces more accurate, longer-ranged guns (Civil War Trust, Steel & Steam: Naval Technology in the Civil War Era: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/navy-hub/navy-history/steel-steam.htm , Rodger A. Bailey, 2014). The guns created would help the amplification of exsplovie shells in 1820 and because of the destructive force these shells could make in wooden ships, Ironclad ships had born. Ironclad ships made ammunition casings bounce off and because of their tremendous weight; steam powered engines were used to move them across oceans. In March 1862 at the Battle of Hampton Roads Union Vessel Monitor and the Confederate vessel Merrimac was the first demonstration of the superiority of ironclads over wooden ships and thus would revolutionize naval warfare forever. (Foner, Give Me Liberty, pg.504). When iron was scarce, other ways were needed to protect and defend their ports. Torpedoes allowed surprise attacks underneath the ironclads where they were more vulnerable. Southerners needed a counter attack so they invented the Submarine. While only one submarine proved to be successful during the Civil War (the H.L. Hunley, which sank the USS Housatonic in 1864) they would make their comeback during World War 1 and are still being used in Navy warfare to this day. The use of steel and iron in innovations like the ironclad, torpedoes, and submarines during the civil war helped pave the way for today’s naval ships. They are built stronger than ever and can withstand more impacts from