Ironclads in the Civil War The Civil War did not introduce the invention of the Ironclad war ship; however, it did widely expand its use as it proved to be an effective naval method during the war at sea. These ironclads were meant to be highly resistant from enemy shots as they were made of “iron-armored wooden hulls” (Harris). Moreover, the North used this tactic in order to blockade southern ports and gain access to the Mississippi River. Formally known as the Anaconda Plan, Winfield Scott designed it in order to ultimately destroy the already inadequate economy in the south, as they would lose all trade routes to their foreign traders like Britain. A AA=for the g ca A prominent attempt to outnumber the Union’s navy occurred when the
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Unfortunately, for them, by the time the ships were transported to the southern ports, the Union Navy destroyed them. Thus, they stuck to building their own ships, although they could not compare to their opponents superior navy. In specific, anytime the Union heard of warships being built, they would intervene and destroy the ships in order to prevent them from weakening the Union’s blockade of their ports. Although the Union was very successful in keeping out any foreign shipping into the South, there were still several ships, known as blockade-runners, which were able to sneakily pass the blockade, aiding the South in their economic downfall. In addition, both sides used naval action as a highly effective method of capturing significant ports such as that of New Orleans in 1862. At this time, New Orleans fell into the control of the Union, in which the confederate forces faced a horrible loss by 5,000 men on their offensive. So overall, the Union was more capable of using this highly critical tactic to their benefit as the confederacy was weakened even more at sea, leaving them to rely on strong land forces to keep them strong against the enemy. In summation, the South was very restricted in their attempts to succeed at sea, as the north devised a well thought out plan to weaken the south. Although it was not the first time, such indestructible ships were used
Unfortunately, for them, by the time the ships were transported to the southern ports, the Union Navy destroyed them. Thus, they stuck to building their own ships, although they could not compare to their opponents superior navy. In specific, anytime the Union heard of warships being built, they would intervene and destroy the ships in order to prevent them from weakening the Union’s blockade of their ports. Although the Union was very successful in keeping out any foreign shipping into the South, there were still several ships, known as blockade-runners, which were able to sneakily pass the blockade, aiding the South in their economic downfall. In addition, both sides used naval action as a highly effective method of capturing significant ports such as that of New Orleans in 1862. At this time, New Orleans fell into the control of the Union, in which the confederate forces faced a horrible loss by 5,000 men on their offensive. So overall, the Union was more capable of using this highly critical tactic to their benefit as the confederacy was weakened even more at sea, leaving them to rely on strong land forces to keep them strong against the enemy. In summation, the South was very restricted in their attempts to succeed at sea, as the north devised a well thought out plan to weaken the south. Although it was not the first time, such indestructible ships were used