Technological Improvements of the Civil War

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The Civil War had many firsts: it was the first war in which machine guns were fired, enemies could aim their rifles with telescopic sites, they laid land lines, and they even spied on their enemies in hot air balloons. Improvements in the weapons changed the strategies of the sides and the number of casualties went way up. The newest rifles had spinning bullets which could make them go farther, could be aimed more accurately, and were even more deadly. And rifles that used minie` balls were even better. Minie` balls were bullets with hollow bases that expands upon firing. Ironclads were the best way to protect yourself at sea. An ironclad is a warship that is covered with iron. They were much better than the wooden ships because they could withstand greater blows. The ironclads had two large cannons located at the top of the ship that were rotating on a turret so that they could fire in all directions. Doctor Richard Gatling patented the Gatling gun in 1861. This gun would become one of the deadliest weapons of the war. The Gatling gun was a six-barreled gun and would fire...

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