Editing H. L. Hunley (section)

== Historical context ==
The [[American Civil War|Civil War]], April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865, was a domestic American war where the [[Union Army|Union]] (also called the North) was locked in combat with the [[Confederate States Army|Confederates]] (also called the South).

In the beginning of the war, combat was fought with bayonets, horses, wooden ships, and imprecise artillery. During the course of the battle the weaponry changed and such things as: mines, accurate guns, more deadly bullets, torpedoes, and "[[Ironclad warship|ironclad]]" ships became a new standard. Though most of the fighting occurred on land, a critical element of the war was the power struggle at sea. Whichever side controlled the coastline also controlled the shipping imports from Europe and Coastal America, which contained critical resources such as clothes, food, artillery, medicine, and, at times, reinforcements. The Hunley was created to destroy the [[Union blockade]] and help gain this all-important coastline advantage.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=PBS |date=2014 |title=Civil War Innovations |url=https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/civil-war-innovations/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=[[History Detectives]] Special Investigations}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marvel |first=William |title=A Concise History of The Civil War: Machines of War |url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/civil_war_series/1/sec5.htm#:~:text=The%20Civil%20War%20saw%20the,the%20face%20of%20warfare%20forever. |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=A Civil War Series by The National Park Service}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hassler |first1=Warren |last2=Weber |first2=Jennifer |date=October 7, 2023 |title=American Civil War |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War |access-date=October 18, 2023 |website=Britannica.com}}</ref>