Technology In War Research Paper

Defining modern warfare and its revolutionary origin is historically difficult because each new revolution in military affairs makes the last one outdated. Gabriel and Metz suggest historians often refer to the American Civil War as the “first truly modern war,” because it was the first to benefit from and use many of the new innovations created by the increased production outputs of the Industrial Revolution.  The American Civil War was the first modern war because both sides used new technology, shaped by the industrial revolution, and produced noticeable advancements in logistics, weaponry, and communication.

Technology and weapons in wars since the Civil War have been progressing each and every day since then. There has been a number changes both good and not so good that has affected how our countries military forces react to the battle field. The advancements that has been made over the many years have killed millions and millions of people during time at war. Since the American Civil War there has been drastic changes to how war that have been fought. Why has technology in war been so important and helpful to us but at the same time been so devastating or us? Wars have also been started because of a new technology and using an antidote to those technologies have brought victory.

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and the War to End All Wars, was a global military conflict which took place primarily in Europe from 1914 to 1918.[2] Over 40 million casualties resulted, including approximately 20 million military and civilian deaths.[3] Over 60 million European soldiers were mobilized from 1914 – 1918.[4] The immediate cause of the war was the June 28, 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by Gavril Principe, a Bosnian Serb citizen of Austria-Hungary and member of the Black Hand. The retaliation by Austria-Hungary against Serbia activated a series of alliances that set off a chain reaction of war declarations. Within a month, much of Europe was

Light machine guns and sub-machine guns were invented during World War I as small arms, but the larger machine guns were modernized as well. Flame throwers were used as an offensive attack against trench warfare.[ix],[x]

The development of the rifle (a firearm with grooves along the inner barrel) meant a soldier could easily hit an enemy from hundreds of meters away, rendering

Over the course of time between the American Revolution and American Civil War, there was a momentous change in the technology and tactics used to fight the wars. Most notably was the inclusion of new technologies during the Civil War, invented only slightly beforehand. Of the changes in technology, the weaponry exhibited the most impactful change, evolving from a simple flintlock musket to the advance minié ball repeater rifle. The tactics evolved as well from the guerrilla tactics used by the Americans in the Revolutionary War, to the more classical and gentlemanesque style of formal lines marching towards each other in an open area. This later tactic is the same as that used by the British soldiers in this time period. These men lined up

How did new technology in World War I influence warfare? Do you think this was (and continues to be) a positive or negative influence. Explain your answer with specific examples and details.

5.These technologies changed society within ten years by making wars easier to win, made everyday life easier, and made food more accessible. These technologies changed society over a long term by making wars deadlier with more dangerous weapons such as nukes, as for tools we now have refrigerators that help food last longer, and with agriculture we have farmers that grow thousands of food.

By World War I the line infantry strategy, which evolved into the “over the top” charge into no-man’s land, was completely redundant and saw massive casualties. The development of the Gatling Gun (1862) (9) and the Maxim Gun (1886) (12) (13) - both heavy rapid-fire weapons

Technology contributes immensely to the field of warfare. However, it is not the sole source of innovation. Exceedingly, it is the need for new or improving methods that force change. Subsequently technology is not the root of innovation, rather it is a contributing factor. The true driving force for innovation is necessity. No saying best describes this aspect than the quote from Plato’s book The Republic, “a true creator is necessity, which is the mother of our invention.”

The Civil War was an extremely important time of crisis for our country that 620,000 soldiers were slaughtered in. This number is the highest in the history of any American war. Most people believe those soldiers died of gunshot wounds or amputations, but most of them without fatal wounds died from diseases that they had never before been exposed to. Two times the amount of troops died from these diseases than those were killed in battle. These diseases were caused because of the fact that people didn’t think they had to sterilize wounds. The Civil War caused many improvements in medicine and hospitals so they became much more efficient.

In the introduction to his book, World War II: New Technologies: Technologies That Affected WWII Warfare, Ryan Jenkins said, “Weapons are not the only technology of war, however. Wars are not won by guns, bullets and bombs alone. Communications and intelligence technology, production techniques (both industrial and agricultural), weapons components, and much else are a part of warfare, and the nations that succeed in those areas are just as likely to succeed as those whose success comes solely in the form of weapons.”

American army officer Omar Bradley once said,“If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.” The meaning of this quote lies in the destruction and devastation of humanity and geography during war. If we do not stop advancing in ways of killing and causing suffering, we will soon face the consequences of these technologies. Throughout World War I and World War II, there was a ginormous technological boom in which countries were competing to invent new weapons or vehicles used in warfare. Specifically, World War I could be blamed for the start of the creating of new technologies used in warfare even today. These technologies were often invented or created during World War I,

War has undoubtedly changed the vast majority of lives on this planet. Even the technology I am using to communicate this message is a product of war. Alan Turing developed the first computer, which was instrumental in the subsequent decryption of the Enigma code in World War II. The first jet aircraft was manufactured by the Luftwaffe to aid them in the same war, leading to today's primary mode of international travel. Countless medical breakthroughs and techniques are the direct product of war such as MRI, various drugs, and especially the laser. The United States even has a separate department, DARPA, whose contributions to the civilian lifestyle continue to innovate and impress. Many of these innovations, although funded for military reasons, have been invaluable to the human race, and we take them for granted day-to-day. From rockets, GPS, and Penicillin, to synthetic rubber, physics, and national defense, war may be hell, but it is certainly beneficial. The benefits of war are not restricted solely to technology; war is an effective catalyst for a nation's economy.

“History does not teach that better technology necessarily leads to victory. Rather victory goes to the commander who uses technology better, or who can deny the enemy his technology.”