Second IR and Warfare
Biggest difference technology made between the US Civil War and World War 1
Technology brought about new weapons. There was an introduction of rifles whose range was greater than that of muskets. Repeaters also came into use with the help of technology. The repeating rifles had the capability of firing more than one bullet at a time without a reload. The Spencer carbine was one of the most famous newly introduced weapons. The Spencer carbine could perform the firing of seven shots or more in 30 seconds. Another difference brought by technology is the introduction of submarines and balloons. The balloons helped in delivering relevant information to the war commanders through telegraphs. The railroad development also occurred because of technological advancement (Hanlon, 2017, p.70). The railroad enabled war officials to move and perform the supply of troops from place to place. Besides, there was an introduction of the telegraph. The telegraph enabled officials to keep track of reports concerning battlefields. Civil war photography also occurred due to technology. The war, therefore, went through documentation through a camera’s lens.
Technology and Massive Casualties in both Wars
The new technology resulted in an increase in the number of casualties in the US civil war and World War 1. The military technology went through a combination with tactical doctrine, which had an old fashion. Due to technology, people of the South failed to match the numerical strength of the Northern people. Southerners, therefore, had higher chances of experiencing injuries and murder (Ehresman, 2018, p. 1612). Although the massive casualties occurred due to technology development, it was not the sole source of casualties. Some people died of diseases during both wars. Other soldiers suffered from psychological disorders and lacked the necessary attention.
References
Hanlon, W. W. (2017). Temporary shocks and persistent effects in urban economies: Evidence from British cities after the US Civil War. Review of Economics and Statistics, 99(1), 67-79.
EHRESMAN, C. (2018, January). The technological development history of the aircraft of World War I. In Aircraft Systems and Technology Conference (p. 1612).
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