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The development of gunpowder essay
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The History of Guns “The invention of gunpowder as a means of hurling a projectile brought about a whole new era, not only in the development of weapons but also to all of history. Man had been on earth almost 1 million years before he made this discovery During that time physical strength had been the basis of power. The strongest man could hurl a spear the farthest and the hardest, bend the most powerful bow, and deal the heaviest strokes with his sword or ax. This gave him mastery in battle and control of his fellow men. With the coming of firearms, size and strength lost their importance. A small man with a gun was just as powerful as a big one (Peterson 9).” Firearms changed the course of history. They evened out the battlefield and …show more content…
“Match” was a lightly twisted rope dipped in a highly flammable solution so it could hold an ash for long periods of time (Peterson 14). The matchlock was the weapon used by Columbus when he traveled to the new world. The weapon was also used by the residents of Jamestown and by the pilgrims on Plymouth Rock. The matchlock was the basic military weapon for 200 years. During that time only minor changes were made to the firearm. It was made lighter, the barrel was made longer, and the long lever like trigger was replaced with a shorter trigger that could be pulled with one finger. Early matchlock guns had a number of names including harquebus, hacquebut, hagbutt, hachbuss, caliver, and musket. (Britanica Matchlock Article 2) The gun was used to hunt for food and to protect against Native Americans. While the gun was an improvement it had some issues. The biggest disadvantage to the matchlock was the necessity to light the match and functional matches like the ones we have today were unknown (Peterson 17). The match also needed to be adjusted every so often to allow the match to be long enough to reach the gunpowder (Peterson 17). High winds and rain would also render the gun useless because it would put the fire
The rifle and the coveted shotgun, literally brought home the bacon. With sleek models such as the Winchester .44 in 1873, accurate targeting sights increased a hunter’s ability to take down his prey, even from large distances, often exceeding 200 yards. The other weapon of choice, the shotgun, did not boast a straight, clean shot, but had the capacity to tear anything to shreds in a single blast. A short barrel provided the advantage of a wider blast range and easier handling (Trachtman et al 50). In many battles, the shotguns were often preferred for their simplifying features.
A popular weapon used by both sides was the rifle. Rifles were invented before the Civil War and were greatly used in the War of 1812. However, more types were built and a larger amount was used during the Civil War. Rifles added a spin to bullets for a greater accuracy at longer ranges. Using this weapon, soldiers could fire 400 yards away, as opposed to the average 80 yards (Robertson 50). Rifles were the fastest and hardest weapon of the time. Rifles allowed their bullets to be shot harder and faster towards its target. New inventions, used by the Union more than the Confederate, included Parrott rifles. They were composed of iron. Robert Parker Parrott, an American soldier and inventor, created these weapons, hence the name Parrott rifles. Despite its name, the Parrott rifle was actually a cannon. Its size ranged from 10 to 300 pounders. It was not favored by most because it was considered unsafe (“Civil War Artillery”). Because of its bulkiness and heaviness, it seldom led soldiers to inaccuratel...
environments. Bill Clede ideas in his article seem to be guild by the idea of
Left, right, Liberal, Conservative, Democratic, Republican. There are a lot of synonyms for the sides of our nation divided. Divided on many things: religion, political views, morals, etc.. For a nation that prides ourselves on extraordinary security and unity, it is quite ironic that so many issues can cause such distress and uproar within communities. One such issue is gun control. As a white male in a middle-lower class family that has never owned a gun, I may be somewhat biased. Objectively as I can, I am going to report the facts and more importantly, try to find the core issues at play.
The 1861 Springfield rifle was the primary rifle used by the Union army during the Civil War during 1861-1865. The rifle was made in Springfield, Massachusetts, where is where it got its name. It was the most widely used rifle in its era although there were many weapons that could best it. Although the weapon was accurate, the troops that had little to no experience had difficulty hitting their targets. It was estimated that nearly 700,000 Springfields were manufactured during the war due to the cheap cost of making them. Loading the rifle was a very time-consuming process compared to the types of advanced weaponry we have today. You would need a ramrod, gunpowder, and a percussion cap in order to load and fire the weapon.
They also hunted small game with blowguns that were accurate from up to 60 feet
The first weapon is the Bow and Arrow. The bow and arrow is a ranged weapon used usually for hunting game and can also be used for war purposes. The aztecs used the bow and arrow for various other reasons. The aztecs made these arrows out of certain types of wood. The top of the arrow was made from flint or obsidian. The aztecs used the bow and arrow for long ranged tactics. The bow and arrow can fire up
The next real step in the evolution of the gun came during the Civil War. Rifles were invented that ...
Crime and guns. The two seem to go hand in hand with one another. But are the two really associated? Do guns necessarily lead to crime? And if so do laws placing restrictions on firearm ownership and use stop the crime or protect the citizens? These are the questions many citizens and lawmakers are asking themselves when setting about to create gun control laws. The debate over gun control, however, is nothing new. In 1924, Presidential Candidate, Robert La Follete said, “our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control but to decide who can own which guns under what conditions.” Clearly this debate still goes on today and is the very reason for the formation of gun control laws.
Long distance weapons were essential to European combat. The main long distance weapons used by Europeans during that time were the longbow and the crossbow. Each form of weaponry had its unique advantages and their pejorative. The long bow (shown in figure 1) was the original form of distance weapons. The term ‘bow’ means to be made from wood, iron or steel. The Welsh, who inhabited England, were the first people to use longbows. Longbows were 6-7 feet long and had a range of 250 yards, and still had the ability to pierce a knight’s armor (Byam 12). A well trained archer could shot 10- 12 arrows in a single minute. Despite these pro’s the longbow had a lot of disadvantages as well. One draw back was only skilled archers, who were costly to train, could use a longbow. Another disadvantage was it didn’t have a ready loaded arrow (Edge 34). The crossbow (shown in figure 2) on the other had been emphatically different. The crossbow had a span of 2-3 feet and could kill a knight on horseback with one shot, because of good aim (Byam 30). Crossbows had ready loaded projectiles, while the longbow didn’t and the crossbow could be used by anyone since it didn’t require any skill. The crossbow did have a down side though, it had slow reloaded because of a crank and it was expensive. Crossbows were also used for other thi...
Gun violence in America is a public health crisis, which needs to be recognized and changed by legislatures, and the voting American. As conscious Americans, we need to vote for changes to gun laws that would improve background checks nation-wide, make firearm registration mandatory, restrict the sale of assault weapons and weapon modifications that give the shooter military-grade fire power, and invest in gun-safe technology and safe firearms storage designs. This type of technology will help prevent criminally oriented people from accessing guns, and will help prevent the accidental deaths of many children by guns. This essay will explain the reforms needed to help ensure Americans can still exercise their 2nd amendment right of owning firearms, and preventing the unnecessary deaths of many Americans at the same time.
These kinds of weapons were impractical for military use, but attracted many people to the arms race for weapons that could sweep the battlefield. “They had limitations in practice, among them slow re...
The Colt .45 M1911 is often considered the most successful handgun ever created. Although John Moses Browning designed the innovative gun for the U.S. military in 1911, it has been used and beloved by many to the present day. The world-renowned handgun has generated an abundance of imitators due to its simplicity and adeptness, however Browning had the intellect to create the very first model. Since its adoption by the U.S. Army in 1911, conveniently before the outset of World War I, the M1911 has become an “an iconic part of military and American history.” (“Multi-million Dollar Order for Colt .45 M1911”) In addition to being featured heavily in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, the gun has also played an incredibly significant role in recreational use by American citizens. Furthermore, the Colt .45’s status as “the most famous automatic firearm in handgun history” is largely because of the fact that American culture has embraced its presence so readily and graciously (Elliot). Indeed, John Browning’s simple, yet incredibly pioneering design of a single action, semiautomatic pistol, greatly influenced the gun industry and U.S. Military while also leaving an impact on American culture.
In 1784, someone using a flintlock pistol shot Edward Culshaw. In those days, there were no bullets, as we know them. Gunpowder and a ball of lead were put into the gun’s muzzle and packed with paper wadding. A spark made when the gun’s hammer struck some flint at the back end of the barrel ignited the powder. When the constable examined Culshaw’s wound, he found a piece of newspaper used as wadding to pack the powder in the killer’s gun. The prime suspect in the killing was a man named John Toms. When a piece of newspaper found in Toms’ pocket was compared with the piece found in the wound, the pieces fit together like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Based on the evidence, Toms was easily convicted. The Toms case was probably the first in America in which ballistics was used to solve a crime.