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USS Monitor

Definition

The USS Monitor was an ironclad warship commissioned by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. It is most famous for its central role in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, where it fought the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia to a standstill.

Analogy

Think of the USS Monitor as a revolutionary new smartphone model. Just like how a new phone model can change how we communicate and use technology, the design of the USS Monitor revolutionized naval warfare with its rotating turret and ironclad hull.

Related terms

Ironclads: These were steam-propelled warships in the mid-19th century, protected by iron or steel armor plates. They were developed in response to wooden ships' vulnerability to explosive or incendiary shells.

Union Navy: This was the United States Navy (USN) during the American Civil War. The Union Navy fought against Confederate sea forces and played a significant role in blockading Southern ports.

John Ericsson: He was a Swedish-American inventor who designed many innovative machines and devices, including the USS Monitor's rotating turret.