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Analytical Essay: The Role Of Weapons In The Civil War

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The Civil War is commonly known as the deadliest war in American history, where more than 750,000 people died. The weapons used in the Civil War can no longer compete with the weapons used now, but still, more people died in this war than in any other. The war lasted four years and the battles where mainly in the South part of the United States.
Anyone was eligible to join, so a lot of the of the soldiers where using basic guns that one would have already had in their house. The most commonly used rifle was the Springfield Model 1861. It was a Minié type rifled musket and was known for its incredible range and accuracy. The weapon was also the first to offer sights that could shoot at targets up to 600 yards. At the start of the war, the North and South were receiving most of their guns from Britain. The North later started using .58 Caliber Springfield musket that could help them win battles. Ammunition was given in paper and had powder that came with it, which allowed them to be ready to reload the weapon after the first fire. …show more content…

They were used more in this war than any other, especially with the Confederate side. The Confederates used many different types of cannons, but the most common was a twelve pound Howitzer. They used this to help them spread out the North’s forces and break them apart. This was a huge technological advance because there wasn’t any heavy artillery at this time. The goal was always for them to try and find the perfect balance between a cannon that could give out a big shot, while also being able to light and mobile enough so they could move it if they needed

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