Question

What was the main advantage of ironclad ships during the Civil War?
A. They could move faster than wooden ships.
B. They could withstand a lot of firepower from enemy ships.
C. They were easier and cheaper to build than wooden ships.
D. They were used only by the Confederate Navy.

Answer 1

B. They could withstand a lot of firepower from enemy ships.

Ironclads had iron-plated hulls that resisted cannon shot and fire far better than wooden ships. They were used by both Union and Confederate navies (e.g., USS Monitor and CSS Virginia), and were not necessarily faster or cheaper to build.