Advancements In Weaponry During The Revolutionary War

Advancements in Weaponry

Throughout America’s history of war, weaponry has played a major factor in conflict. Weapons were improved for the benefit of the American soldiers. Since American war instruments have been improved in technology, the U.S was able to exceed over their opponents in war from the Colonial Era to the Antebellum Era. The usage of improved weaponry was a major advantage for the United States. Seeing that technology in weaponry has been advanced throughout the years, the advantages that America had possessed remains to be the biggest factor in conflict from the Colonial, American Revolution, Early Republic, and Antebellum Eras.

During the Colonial Era, the introduction of the innovative flintlock smoothbore musket was

In the midst of the conflict during the Revolutionary War, the flintlock smoothbore musket was the most important weapon used. Within a hundred yards, the musket was aimed and accurately fired at a single target. The flintlock musket was fired when the flint struck the steel, which formed a spark that ignited the gunpowder in the barrel of the rifle. Due to the slow firing rate, the bayonet was designed to be attached to the end of the rifle. The sword like blade, attached to the muzzle of the rifle, led to several hand-to-hand fighting styles in the 1700s. Adding the bayonet to the rifle, gave the soldier a complete advantage against the enemy opponent. If a U.S soldier ran out of ammunition, the bayonet was to be used as a melee weapon in war. This was more convenient for the soldier to win the hand-to-hand combat. The bayonet was viewed as a dangerous weapon because of its ruthless effectiveness. Adding to the dangerous American arsenal, the American long rifle was a weapon of distance. Inside of the long rifle, the barrel was made with grooves, which made the weapon more accurate than the flintlock smoothbore musket. Unlike the flintlock musket, the American long rifle was accurate up to triple the distance of the Brown Bess. Although shooting distances were important in war, the long rifle had a slow reloading rate and did not have a bayonet attached. So if a soldier

The musket was well known because of the efficiency and precision on the battlefield terrain. Instead of using the British Brown Bess, American troops were equipped with the Springfield musket. Both of the two muskets could be attached with bayonets. Since the War of 1812 was a war of close combat, swords and bayonets were crucial in melee attacks. When ammunition was scarce, soldiers could still continue to fight with their secondary weapon of choice. And similar to the Revolutionary War, artillery weapons such as cannons were still used in the Early Republic Era. During the War of 1812, cannons were used to bombard forts and buildings, while terminating a major portion of the opposing army. Although cannons were an addition to the war effect, artillery were not depended on for being accurate and guaranteed. As a victorious result of the Revolutionary War, American troops continued to use identical weaponry in the War of 1812 because the positive outcome in the American Revolution