Roles Of American Women After The Civil War And Reconstruction

The years following the Civil War and Reconstruction would see an increase in the roles of women in the United States. These roles would allow the women to provide for their families in more ways than staying at home and taking care of the children and house. Women would become contributors to both the household and the economy. The increased role did not mean that women were considered equal to their male counterparts, it would take decades for that to occur. This was the time of social movement and American women were one of the groups that would see an increase in what they were allowed to do. Prior to the Civil War the American women spent most of her time in the home, that was her place of work and how she could contribute best to her family. They were expected to cook, clean, and
The American women’s role did not change through the years, until the late 19th century. Ensuring their family was comfortable and taken care of was the primary concern of the American women, mother, and wife prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. It would be during the Civil War that women would begin forming aid societies to support both Union and Confederate soldiers during the war. This was just the beginning, it would not be long before women were moving to the frontline of the war. They were able to accomplish this in two ways, as nurses at the camps and as spy’s. This host of new duties and responsibilities aided in expanding women’s thoughts on where they actually belonged in American society.
These new found roles and responsibilities would carry over from the Civil War and Reconstruction Era into the