Talk to me, Abe!
Communication technology played a profound role in aiding the North’s victory during the Civil War. Primarily, President Abraham Lincoln was able to communicate rapidly to his troops during the variety of battles, thus stressing the revolutionary novel ideal of national leadership through more convenient communication. The many inventions also played a large role in the unification of the Union, and established a more nationalistic sense among both the general Northern community as well as the Union’s troops. In addition, it also allowed the north to win the Civil War through the ability to use secretive codes in order to communicate with troops without the enemy knowing.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
The artifact to the right is a daguerreotype of the Civil War battlefield. A daguerreotype is a photograph on a metal plate developed in chemicals. It required the absolute stillness of the photo subject, therefore making it incapable of capturing action shots. The development of photography during the Civil War era was significant because it allowed the Civil War to become the first modern war, in which it was visually documented. This daguerreotype was chosen to be displayed to represent photography as communication in general during the Civil War era, because it shows the aspects of the early photographic processes and it clearly represents the nature of the Civil War battlefield, communicating the characteristics of the war to the people of the Union.
The artifact to the right is a daguerreotype of the Civil War battlefield. A daguerreotype is a photograph on a metal plate developed in chemicals. It required the absolute stillness of the photo subject, therefore making it incapable of capturing action shots. The development of photography during the Civil War era was significant because it allowed the Civil War to become the first modern war, in which it was visually documented. This daguerreotype was chosen to be displayed to represent photography as communication in general during the Civil War era, because it shows the aspects of the early photographic processes and it clearly represents the nature of the Civil War battlefield, communicating the characteristics of the war to the people of the Union.
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TYPEWRITER
The typewriter proved to be one of the most important inventions that led to the advancement of communication among the people during the age of the Civil War. Not only did it provide a more efficient way of displaying information as opposed to handwriting, but it allowed family members to quickly write messages to their family members after the Civil War. It was also able to keep people up to date with information and allowed there to be a faster way of reproducing documents.
The typewriter proved to be one of the most important inventions that led to the advancement of communication among the people during the age of the Civil War. Not only did it provide a more efficient way of displaying information as opposed to handwriting, but it allowed family members to quickly write messages to their family members after the Civil War. It was also able to keep people up to date with information and allowed there to be a faster way of reproducing documents.
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PRINTING PRESS
Even though the Printing Press was created centuries prior to the Civil War, the development of technology allowed it to become a prominent tool that was extremely popular during the Civil War. A common technique used to gather the support of the universal community was propaganda which was further popularized because of the Printing Press. Through the use of the Printing Press, people were able to display the latest news in a manner so that anyone would be able to have access to it. This also aided the growth of nationalism that would later play a larger role in history.
Even though the Printing Press was created centuries prior to the Civil War, the development of technology allowed it to become a prominent tool that was extremely popular during the Civil War. A common technique used to gather the support of the universal community was propaganda which was further popularized because of the Printing Press. Through the use of the Printing Press, people were able to display the latest news in a manner so that anyone would be able to have access to it. This also aided the growth of nationalism that would later play a larger role in history.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/0/4/25043004/9379878.jpg)
SIGNAL TOWER
This image shows an example of a signal tower used during the Civil War. The Confederates would stand on top of the tower and signal using flags, lights or rockets. Enemy movements were easily communicated to warn the troops of advancement, therefore beneficially improving the transport of information in the war. Because of the height, these signal towers were effective at getting the attention of people from distances greater than before.
This image shows an example of a signal tower used during the Civil War. The Confederates would stand on top of the tower and signal using flags, lights or rockets. Enemy movements were easily communicated to warn the troops of advancement, therefore beneficially improving the transport of information in the war. Because of the height, these signal towers were effective at getting the attention of people from distances greater than before.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/0/4/25043004/9982973.png?279)
TELEGRAPH
The photo at right shows a telegraph used during the Civil War. Even though the telegraph didn’t specifically have to do with the war, it changed the way people fought the war. Invented by Samuel Morse in 1844, it was not popular until after the after the Civil War began. In 1861 when Lincoln was inaugurated, the telegraph was not prominent, thus officials had to send a clerk to wait in line at Washington’s telegraph office in order to send a message. After the telegraph line was extended, Lincoln’s relationship with his forces in the field began to change. He no longer had to wait anxiously for information from the battle front because he could rapidly send and receive messages. Another advantage of the telegraph was the ability to send secret messages without the enemy knowing. The only disadvantage of being able to communicate quickly was the ability for news media to promptly report on the war. With battle front information open to the public, the government had to find a way to handle the information broadcasted.
The photo at right shows a telegraph used during the Civil War. Even though the telegraph didn’t specifically have to do with the war, it changed the way people fought the war. Invented by Samuel Morse in 1844, it was not popular until after the after the Civil War began. In 1861 when Lincoln was inaugurated, the telegraph was not prominent, thus officials had to send a clerk to wait in line at Washington’s telegraph office in order to send a message. After the telegraph line was extended, Lincoln’s relationship with his forces in the field began to change. He no longer had to wait anxiously for information from the battle front because he could rapidly send and receive messages. Another advantage of the telegraph was the ability to send secret messages without the enemy knowing. The only disadvantage of being able to communicate quickly was the ability for news media to promptly report on the war. With battle front information open to the public, the government had to find a way to handle the information broadcasted.
STUDY TIPS
Now that you have been given an overwhelming amount of information about the Civil War, let’s talk about ways to remember this information. Here are ways you can make studying fun!
Now that you have been given an overwhelming amount of information about the Civil War, let’s talk about ways to remember this information. Here are ways you can make studying fun!
- Make colorful flashcards
- Write a song containing all of the information
- re-enact the Civil War for a friend
- Teach the information to your parents
- Use photography to express how people felt during the war
- Artistically re-create the battles using paint, clay, or music
CITATIONS
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 6 Dec 2013. <http://signal.army.mil/OLD/history/images/snippets/1860s_Signal_Tower.jpg>.
Photograph. n.p. Web. 6 Dec 2013. <http://philsayer.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/why-we-should-replace-our-
school-computers-with-typewriters/>.
Richard March Hoe. N.d. Graphic. History of InnovationWeb. 6 Dec 2013.
<http://aehistory.wordpress.com/1843/10/08/1843-steam-powered-rotary-drum-printing-invented/>.
Stereo View Yorktown, VA (Library of Congress). N.d. Photograph. Civil War Trust, Yorktown. Web. 6 Dec 2013.
<http://www.civilwar.org/photos/3d-photography-special/photography-and-the-civil-war.html>.
Telegraph. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 6 Dec 2013. <http://0.tqn.com/d/dc/1/0/X/g/morse_telegraph_key.jpg>.
N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 6 Dec 2013. <http://signal.army.mil/OLD/history/images/snippets/1860s_Signal_Tower.jpg>.
Photograph. n.p. Web. 6 Dec 2013. <http://philsayer.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/why-we-should-replace-our-
school-computers-with-typewriters/>.
Richard March Hoe. N.d. Graphic. History of InnovationWeb. 6 Dec 2013.
<http://aehistory.wordpress.com/1843/10/08/1843-steam-powered-rotary-drum-printing-invented/>.
Stereo View Yorktown, VA (Library of Congress). N.d. Photograph. Civil War Trust, Yorktown. Web. 6 Dec 2013.
<http://www.civilwar.org/photos/3d-photography-special/photography-and-the-civil-war.html>.
Telegraph. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 6 Dec 2013. <http://0.tqn.com/d/dc/1/0/X/g/morse_telegraph_key.jpg>.