Skip to main content

What was designed by the Union to defeat the Confederacy in the Civil War?

Many things were designed by the Union to defeat the Confederacy, though the Confederacy was able to acquire many of the same things.  One thing that the Union had a near-monopoly on was the Monitor, which was modeled after the U.S.S. Monitor that fought at the battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia in the first battle of ironclads.  This ship was low on the waterline and had a gun turret, while traditional naval ships of the...

Many things were designed by the Union to defeat the Confederacy, though the Confederacy was able to acquire many of the same things.  One thing that the Union had a near-monopoly on was the Monitor, which was modeled after the U.S.S. Monitor that fought at the battle of Hampton Roads, Virginia in the first battle of ironclads.  This ship was low on the waterline and had a gun turret, while traditional naval ships of the time had to fire broadsides into their enemies and often board them for hand-to-hand combat.  These Monitors had such a shallow draft that they were terrible for open-ocean combat but were perfect for riverine missions, which was important in a South that had to move goods via rivers due to its shortage of railroads.  


The main thing that allowed the North to defeat the South, however, was the development of a comprehensive strategy.  The North, under the leadership of Winfield Scott, developed this plan to close off Southern ports and to control the Mississippi River, thus keeping imports away from the South and cutting it in half.  By 1864, both Grant in the Eastern Theater and Sherman in the West were able to coordinate their attacks thanks to the telegram in order to make it more difficult if not impossible for the Confederacy to shift men from one theater to the other.  It was both technology and this innovative strategy that allowed the North to defeat the South.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...
Post a Comment
Read more