FDR and Pearl Harbor

At the beginning of the Civil War, the science of ballistics was in a stage of infancy. Over the next three quarters of a century, the weaponry used in warfare changed dramatically. Weapons became faster, more efficient, and even more deadly. All of the weapons had been improved, from bullets and ammunition, to cannons and tanks. Weapons changed from the time between the Civil War and World War I by becoming more efficient, safer for the user, and more simple to use.
A sidearm is a weapon , as a pistol or sword, carried at the side or on the belt. Sidearms during the Civil War ranged from small flintlock pistols to cavalry swords. The sidearms used, especially the pistols, were not very efficient and were known to be very dangerous. During World War I however, the sidearms were mainly small arms such as revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The pistols during the Civil War were loaded through the muzzle with powder and a ball. During World War I however, the weapons took ammunition in a cartridge which was easier, more reliable, and safer.
Rifles have been used as weapons in war since the first firearms were invented. The U.S. Springfield was the standard issue wartime rifle for the infantry of the United States. This rifle took cartridges and was a bolt-action rifle, which allowed for better accuracy and a quicker fire rate. (Duffy Article) Rifles during the Civil War however, were muzzleloading rifles. A muzzleloading rifle is a rifle that requires the user to load it from the muzzle of the rifle putting powder, a wadding, and a projectile down the barrel using a stick to pack the round. These were much slower than the rifles of World War I. (Howey Article) Rifles have and always will be an important part of war time fighting....

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... made in all aspects of the science of ballistics. Weapons became faster and even effective. These changes have impacted every single person living in the United States today in one way or another. Every change, from as simple as bullets and ammunition, to as complicated as machinery, made a very important impact in these wars and the many wars to come. The science of ballistics has became more and more complicated and technical, coming a long way from nails down a barrel of a gun and powder in a sheep’s horn. Guns and weapons will continue to be improved. War will continue to become more harsh and deadly. The men and women behind all of these weapons will become smarter and smarter. It is easy to tell now how much everything has changed and it will be amusing to look back in another three quarters of a century and see just how many more improvements we have made.