eli5 Why weren’t machine guns possible to make in the past?

Question

What stopped 18-19th century armies with guns from being able to create automatic weapons like AK-47s and Uzis?
Since they don’t use electricity I feel like they’re made with materials and technology that was already available in the 1750s, surely they could’ve put their heads together to create a machine gun and just annihilate any ops…

Thanks

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Although you mention AK-47s and Uzis, it should be noted that the Gatling gun was first used during the American Civil War which was the late 19th century.

Although different in functionality, it was a “rapid fire” fairly “automatic” weapon.

Just my view.