Why is the American Civil War, 1861-1865, considered the first "modern" war?

Answer 1

There was a lot of technology introduced or exploited by the armed forces of both sides during that conflict that affected greatly the eventual outcome. I point out the use of two, the telegraph and the railroad. But of course there were much more innovations than that...

Answer 2

If you look at shots of how the Civil war started you would see Napoleonic Warfare. As in troops in lines given the order to ready, aim, and fire their weapons. Repeat, March etc.

Everyone did this at the time, however they didn't at first realize the weapons they were using were very powerful and very accurate *for the time*.

Eventually the war progressed and you see the use of trenches and modern fighting tactics differing from just standing in a line and firing.

Answer 3

the reason its the first modern war is alot of tech improvments, along with cartridges, breach loading guns, rifled artillery, the first massive use of automatic weapons (1865, peper box, gattiling), the introduction of trench warfare (end of war)

the reason they used mass formations wasnt because of the inefectivness of the mussle loading musket it was for C&C (command & control) shouted commands along with drums and bugles. also the iinfantry didnt have the ability to engage a calvary charge as skirmishers a well disaplined unit of calvary would ride down the skirmishers

Answer 4

I don't fully agree with that. I think the first modern war is the first one where people stop standing in a line in the open field and shoot in sync.

Answer 5

After the yankee civil conflict, there have not been any super scale conflicts fought between American's. there have been some violent riots, and there have been some incidents the place some reformer tries to stir issues up somewhat.

Answer 6

Use of modern logistics
Railroads as a factor
Iron clad steam powered screw driven warships
Use of mines
Interchangeable parts in weapons
Proper use of command staff
Organized training and standardized equipment of civilian conscripts on a large scale.

Answer 7

Probably because of the use of the Iron Clads! And the use of weapons that could reach beyond those of mass formations!

I always wondered why anyone in their right mind would get altogether in one spot and start firing at each other. Did they have a death wish?

Answer 8

i think world war 1 was because it was the introduction of automatic weapons,lethal gas,tanks, and planes

Answer 9

they came up with a lot of new weapons.
-Gatling Gun (first automatic weapon)
-grenades
-rifled guns
-use of telescopic sights
-lots of new canons

they used new tactics
-flanking for example

there was a lot of changes in that war.