Civil War and Technology

Technology from French Revolution to U.S. Civil War Attention Sentence: Only about sixty to seventy years passed from the French Revolution in the late 1700's and the United States Civil War in the 1860's.

However, the technology and methodologies that were used during the two conflicts were quite different despite only three generations passing in between Given the necessity for bigger and better technology, the advent of the Industrial Revolution and other factors, there was a mind-blowing amount of technology progress in the United States from 1790 to 1861 and the upgrades and updates run the gamut in terms of sources, benefits and reach. Major Points Supporting Thesis: There was a paradigm shift in terms of technology from the late 1700's to the mid-1800's.

Everything improved greatly including transportation, weaponry, transportation, energy and other things. Major Point One - Battle from Sea a. There were a number of major changes and new technologies during the early half or so the 1800's and one of those was the use of sea warfare. Both the submarine and the destroyer came into firm existence between the French Revolution and the United States Civil War b. Submarine first used in 1770's and expanded use beyond that c. USS Monitor was deployed during the United States Civil War.

It was the first iron-clad warship. III. Major Point Two -- Bigger and Better Guns, bombs and other weapons a. Rockets were still emerging and evolving in the late 1700's b. Shrapnel-laden weapons became prominently used by the British in early 1800's c. Revolvers emerge in the early 1800's d. Machine guns come in the 1850's e. Swords and sabers still heavily used up to and including in the 1860's f. Gatling Gun created just before the Civil War g.

Although not widely used due to accidents, TNT was present in the 1860's h. Better and more accurate rounds for rifles IV. Major Point Three -- Better Communication, Energy & Bridges a. Samuel Morse, the namesake of Morse Code, created the telegraph in the 1830's. b. The telephone was also from the 1830's c. Oil wells started being used just before the United States Civil War d. Suspension bridges emerged in the 1840's e.

The use of railroads exploded in the early 1800's -- 30,000 miles of track by the start of the Civil War. There was zero when the French Revolution happened. f. Steam power came into its own in the 1800's. Steam engines arrived as well V. Manufacturing a. Steel became mass-produced starting in the 1850's -- obviously used for war applications in many ways b. Gun powder and other munitions factories also became quite common c. Mass manufacturing of uniforms, shoes and other gear had to be ramped up d.

Indeed, cotton was one of the major issues of the United States Civil War because of the black slaves that were used to harvest and process it in the South. i. Cotton Gin was created by Eli Whitney at the end of the 1700's as the French Revolution was dying down e. Goodyear Tires were present in the 1840's f. Sewing machine was also new in the 1840's g. Cotton plants starting using hydroelectric.