How is a Civil War different from a traditional war?

Answer 1

It was considered the first modern war, with millions of soldiers fighting; it pitted Americans against Americans; railroads were used to transport large numbers of troops and materiel to areas where they were needed quickly, and it was the first American example of the concept of "total war"; advances in weaponry like the machine gun, submarines, and mines made killing large numbers most efficient

Answer 2

A civil war is when a group of rebels from the same country leaves its government and fights against it

a traditional war is when two different countries armies and governments fights against each other

Answer 3

The US Civil War brought to the battle field new tactics and new weapons that never had been used in war before. Here are a few innovations that sadly brought more death & destruction than in previous wars. And there is no reason to believe that they helped make the Civil War any shorter than it was:

1. Trench warfare. Generally speaking trench warfare came to its peak and notoriety in the first world war, however it had its beginnings in the US Civil War. Trenches were used in fortification situations and in configuring troops;

2. The traditional bayoneted musket familiar to many from scenes of the American Revolutionary War were still in use, took as many as 9 steps to reload. These were still in use, however, many such muskets were "modernized" by a new muzzle loading bullet that increased the accuracy and distance the bullet could travel. This lent itself to having battles fought from longer ranges than ever before;

3. The breech-loading rifle. Unlike muzzle loading muskets, the breech rifle was faster and more accurate then a musket;

4.The first war where ironclad warships and submarines were used;

4a. Regarding ironclads. The USS Monitor was an ironclad well ahead of its time. It had one canon mounted on a revolving turret, much as did later modern tanks, and the "body" of the Monitor was barely above sea level giving an enemy ship hardly any target to shoot at. The Monitor was in only 1 battle with the CSS Merrimack, which was a draw. The Monitor later sunk in a hurricane.

5. The introduction of what can be called a "machine gun". This was the Gatling Gun, named after its inventor. It could fire multiple rounds and became the forerunner of the modern day machine gun;

6. The use of aerial reconnaissance balloons to spot enemy locations; and

7. The extensive use of railways to swiftly move troops from one location to another. Using a railroad train was not "new" as there were trains in European wars, however, for the 1st time, their use became a key tactical device in the movement of troops;