4) the American Civil War Has Been Described as the First "Modern War." Assess.
The American Civil War has been described as the first "modern war." Assess.
The American Civil War is almost undoubtedly the most important event in the life of the nation. There are many reasons it is entitled to this account, mainly regarding to a better future for America, “a new birth of freedom”1. Through horrific measures, “It was the watershed of a new political and economic order, and the beginning of big industry, big business, big government… for Americans, the costliest, yielding the most American fatalities and the greatest domestic suffering, spiritually and physically. It was the most horrible, necessary, intimate, acrimonious, mean-spirited, and heroic conflict the nation has ever known.”2 However one of the several reasons that the war is so significant is that it was groundbreaking for all wars yet to come, globally. Many historians have regarded it as the world’s first modern war. A modern war it was with its widespread use of the most advanced mechanised and electrified devices of its time. Although on the contrary, a modern war it wasn’t with many uses of outdated, poorly planned and un-practiced tactics with modern equipment. Was the Civil War really the first modern war or could it be considered as experimental and a warning for military, universally, to employ and how to employ better tactics and training when using the worlds newest equipment?
The technological advancements of the steam age and the industrial revolution called for extensive changes in the logistics and tactics of the civil war battlefield. In the few years prior to and during the civil war there were advancements in all areas of technology. This influenced the civil war in numerous ways; although in the areas of
1 Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, (3 July 1863), http://ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc+36, 13 August 2011
2 The Civil War, A Film By Ken Burns, The Cross Roads Of Our Being, (2002), www.pbs.org/civilwar/war, 13 August 2011
sea warfare,
The American Civil War is almost undoubtedly the most important event in the life of the nation. There are many reasons it is entitled to this account, mainly regarding to a better future for America, “a new birth of freedom”1. Through horrific measures, “It was the watershed of a new political and economic order, and the beginning of big industry, big business, big government… for Americans, the costliest, yielding the most American fatalities and the greatest domestic suffering, spiritually and physically. It was the most horrible, necessary, intimate, acrimonious, mean-spirited, and heroic conflict the nation has ever known.”2 However one of the several reasons that the war is so significant is that it was groundbreaking for all wars yet to come, globally. Many historians have regarded it as the world’s first modern war. A modern war it was with its widespread use of the most advanced mechanised and electrified devices of its time. Although on the contrary, a modern war it wasn’t with many uses of outdated, poorly planned and un-practiced tactics with modern equipment. Was the Civil War really the first modern war or could it be considered as experimental and a warning for military, universally, to employ and how to employ better tactics and training when using the worlds newest equipment?
The technological advancements of the steam age and the industrial revolution called for extensive changes in the logistics and tactics of the civil war battlefield. In the few years prior to and during the civil war there were advancements in all areas of technology. This influenced the civil war in numerous ways; although in the areas of
1 Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, (3 July 1863), http://ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc+36, 13 August 2011
2 The Civil War, A Film By Ken Burns, The Cross Roads Of Our Being, (2002), www.pbs.org/civilwar/war, 13 August 2011
sea warfare,
Bibliography: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, (3 July 1863), www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc+36, 13 August 2011 The Civil War, A Film By Ken Burns, The Cross Roads Of Our Being, (2002), www.pbs.org/civilwar/war,13 August 2011 Catton, Bruce, The Army of the Potomac: Mr. Lincoln’s Army, (New York, Random House, 1962) McPherson, James M., Battle Cry Of Freedom, (New York, Oxford University Press, 1988) Battle Of The Monitor and Merrimac, (2003-2008), www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/monitor-merrimac.htm, 12 August 2011 Fuller, John F.C. The Conduct of War: 1789-1961. (New York, De Carpo Press, 1961 Catton, Bruce, America goes to war, (Connecticut, Wesleyan University Press, 1992) The Cavalry, (2011), http://civilwarcavalry.com/?page_id=11, 8 August 2011 Cavalry Tactics, (2011), http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/regimental/cavalry.cfm, 8 August 2011