The Civil War was widely known for pitting the brothers against brothers and neighbors against neighbors. However, it was also a great time of technological change in the United States of America in many different industries and the racial injustices committed against African-American slaves would be lifted.
Improved Thinking
Through ingenuity and technological thinking, many new products and processes were made specifically for the war such as grooved rifles, mini balls, telegraphy, embalming, photography, etc. With this new thinking, a higher demand for new military tactics was needed to match the new technology. Due to the better models in guns and bullets that were more accurate, the soldiers fighting would need to adapt from their old marching ways and fight from longer distances through snipers and long distances. Fighting in a straight line with this technology would be considered obsolete. If there was no adaptation many would die, as seen through many casualties during skirmishes of major battles. By the end of the Civil War, approximately 600,000 soldiers had died. Because of this large number of death, conditions of soldiers became more important and were valued. Many could now write to their letters and others made dog tags so that they may be identified if the inevitable time were to come. Due to this advanced improvement, many of these military methods are still not outdated and are regularly utilized.
Advanced Warfare
During the Civil War, many officers of war were trying to learn the newest, best-functioning tactics so that they could mentally outmatch the opponent before they even fought. Already the Union had the disadvantage as much of the battles took place in the south. The General of the Confederate Armies, Robert E. Lee, hired the best military men who knew the South like the back of their hand. The Union, not knowing the land, suffered due to their little knowledge. However, because all the fighting was in the South, the Union soldiers would be closer to the South's capital, Richmond, whereas the Confederacy would be farther from Washington D.C. In order to end the war, Lincoln ordered William Sherman to destroy everything in the South and blaze a trail straight to the sea. Soon Atlanta would be devastated in a march of 62,000 soldiers and the March to the Sea destroyed the South's capital allowing the Union to win the Civil War.
Women and African-Americans
Through the Civil War, many women and African-Americans sought the chance to prove their worth. The war gave them this opportunity. More than 21,000 women sign on to the war to work as nurses. A woman named Clara Barton revolutionizes the military medical field when she realizes that soldiers need a positive environment when injured along with better conditions than they used to have. Clara Barton saved many soldier through this method and went on to create the Red Cross. Since many of the American men (5 times more likely to die as a solider than a civilian) died in the war, there was a great demand for more soldiers. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, many freed slaves joined the army and proved their worth by forming some of the most powerful regiment in the Union armies. Many generals supported them and their cause and allowed them their freedoms at the end of the war. These two groups greatly impacted the war and changed the nation for forever.
Reconstruction
By the end of the war, almost all of the slaves were freed. Lincoln would soon see this as a problem and move to ratify the 13th Amendment which would officially free slaves in all US territories and states (his death would prevent him from seeing this put into action). Later the 14th and 15th Amendments would also give the new citizens of America human rights that could be put into action. Others did not like this governmental proclamation and secretly fought to undermine the amendments. Most of these groups were stationed in the South. The most prominent is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) that violently expressed their views. These racially-biased groups would continue their raging tirade until the Civil Rights Movement almost a century later. Women attained very high regards for their war efforts and contributions. American women would gain an even higher status in the World Wars when they took over the laborious occupations of the men. Along with the World Wars, many of the tactics used in the Civil War would be utilized in other major conflicts. Technology would steadily increase and so strategies based off of old Civil War tactics would be used to determine military success. Also, diversity changed and more immigrants came to the US when they were accepted increasing America's "Melting Pot."
Improved Thinking
Through ingenuity and technological thinking, many new products and processes were made specifically for the war such as grooved rifles, mini balls, telegraphy, embalming, photography, etc. With this new thinking, a higher demand for new military tactics was needed to match the new technology. Due to the better models in guns and bullets that were more accurate, the soldiers fighting would need to adapt from their old marching ways and fight from longer distances through snipers and long distances. Fighting in a straight line with this technology would be considered obsolete. If there was no adaptation many would die, as seen through many casualties during skirmishes of major battles. By the end of the Civil War, approximately 600,000 soldiers had died. Because of this large number of death, conditions of soldiers became more important and were valued. Many could now write to their letters and others made dog tags so that they may be identified if the inevitable time were to come. Due to this advanced improvement, many of these military methods are still not outdated and are regularly utilized.
Advanced Warfare
During the Civil War, many officers of war were trying to learn the newest, best-functioning tactics so that they could mentally outmatch the opponent before they even fought. Already the Union had the disadvantage as much of the battles took place in the south. The General of the Confederate Armies, Robert E. Lee, hired the best military men who knew the South like the back of their hand. The Union, not knowing the land, suffered due to their little knowledge. However, because all the fighting was in the South, the Union soldiers would be closer to the South's capital, Richmond, whereas the Confederacy would be farther from Washington D.C. In order to end the war, Lincoln ordered William Sherman to destroy everything in the South and blaze a trail straight to the sea. Soon Atlanta would be devastated in a march of 62,000 soldiers and the March to the Sea destroyed the South's capital allowing the Union to win the Civil War.
Women and African-Americans
Through the Civil War, many women and African-Americans sought the chance to prove their worth. The war gave them this opportunity. More than 21,000 women sign on to the war to work as nurses. A woman named Clara Barton revolutionizes the military medical field when she realizes that soldiers need a positive environment when injured along with better conditions than they used to have. Clara Barton saved many soldier through this method and went on to create the Red Cross. Since many of the American men (5 times more likely to die as a solider than a civilian) died in the war, there was a great demand for more soldiers. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, many freed slaves joined the army and proved their worth by forming some of the most powerful regiment in the Union armies. Many generals supported them and their cause and allowed them their freedoms at the end of the war. These two groups greatly impacted the war and changed the nation for forever.
Reconstruction
By the end of the war, almost all of the slaves were freed. Lincoln would soon see this as a problem and move to ratify the 13th Amendment which would officially free slaves in all US territories and states (his death would prevent him from seeing this put into action). Later the 14th and 15th Amendments would also give the new citizens of America human rights that could be put into action. Others did not like this governmental proclamation and secretly fought to undermine the amendments. Most of these groups were stationed in the South. The most prominent is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) that violently expressed their views. These racially-biased groups would continue their raging tirade until the Civil Rights Movement almost a century later. Women attained very high regards for their war efforts and contributions. American women would gain an even higher status in the World Wars when they took over the laborious occupations of the men. Along with the World Wars, many of the tactics used in the Civil War would be utilized in other major conflicts. Technology would steadily increase and so strategies based off of old Civil War tactics would be used to determine military success. Also, diversity changed and more immigrants came to the US when they were accepted increasing America's "Melting Pot."