Investigation Plan AThis investigation will focus on answering the question "To what extent did the invention and innovation of new weapons during the 19th century Did they affect the American Civil War? The most common weapons of the era will be described, as well as the major weapons manufacturers of the period leading up to the Civil War. Multiple military innovations will be examined and their implications on warfare discussed, considering the number of weapons improved and how this affected their combat effectiveness. The number of casualties from the American Civil War will also be displayed and it will be explained why the death toll was so high. B-Summary of the Evidence The years leading up to the Civil War caused a furious race among arms manufacturers, as they could sense conflict on the horizon. In the 1840s, Claude Étienne Minié, a Frenchman, perfected the design of a muzzle-loading rifle and bullet that fired more accurately and had an effective range 8 times greater than older weapons ( Boot 127). Other innovators such as Samuel Colt, Oliver Winchester, and Richard Gatling were also active in designing their own weapons. Many inventors received a lot of attention when war broke out. The Spencer repeating rifle, patented in 1861 by Christopher Spencer, proved to be a true innovation during the war by Wilder's "Lightning Brigade", which used the 7-shot rifle in the West against the Confederates (Boot 128-129). The Spencer repeating rifle was also seen during Sherman's March, where General Paul Sheridan received 10,000 rifle-wielding soldiers (Roberts). Another inventor who established himself in weapons manufacturing during the war was Samuel Colt with his Model 1860 Colt rev...... middle of paper ......ence at Casualty and Other Figures, 1500- 2000. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2002. Print. Downey, Fairfax. Guns at Gettysburg. New York: D. McKay, 1958. Print. Ellis, John. The social history of the machine gun. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1986. Print. Gugliotta, Guy. "New Estimate Increases Civil War Death Toll." The New York Times. The New York Times, April 2, 2012. Web. March 30, 2014.Roberts, William L. “US Spencer Lever Action Repeating Rifle.” » The National Firearms Museum. Np, and Web. March 27, 2014. Schneller, Robert J., Jr. “Rear Admiral Dahlgren.” Rear Admiral Dahlgren. Dahlgren Museum, nd Web. April 14, 2014. Singer, Peter W. “War Made New: The History and Future of Technology and Warfare.” The Brookings Institution. Np, October 26, 2006. Web. April 15, 2014. Williamson, Harold F. Winchester, the weapon that won the West. Washington: Combat Forces, 1952. Print.