Final answer:
During the Civil War, soldiers used breech-loading, repeating rifles, handguns, and early machine guns such as the Gatling gun. Artillery like cannons and cannonballs was also integral to the conflict. After the war, the evolving technological and social landscape continued to shape firearm usage and ownership rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diverse firearms were utilized during the Civil War, including rifles, handguns, and early versions of machine guns. Specifically, European and U.S. soldiers had access to breech-loading, repeating rifles and handguns that offered improved rates of fire, loading speeds, and accuracy. One significant piece of military technology that emerged in this era was the Gatling gun, an early iteration of the machine gun that could unleash a hail of bullets, which dramatically shifted the dynamics of warfare. In addition, the Civil War also employed cannons and cannonballs as part of its artillery.
The post-Civil War period brought further advancements and debates about firearms with selective incorporation and the Second Amendment. Despite the advances in firearms, the civil rights of formerly enslaved individuals, including the right to bear arms, continued to face restrictions under Black codes in the southern states. This highlighted the evolving relationship between arms technology and social dynamics during and after the Civil War.
It's important to note that while the Gatling gun, patented by R. J. Gatling in 1865, was invented during the Civil War period, it was more widely recognized and used by the British and the US in later conflicts, such as against the Zulu in Africa and in the Battle of San Juan Hill.