Women During The Civil War Essay
The American Civil War had an impact on everyone in the country. Women were no exception. Phelps defines Civil War by saying, “Civil war exists when two or more opposing parties within a country resort to arms to settle a conflict or when a substantial portion of the population takes up arms against the legitimate government of a country.” Many people today do not realise the effect that women had on this war. Without them, the war could have had a very different outcome. Women held an array of different jobs at this time. The women were tired of sitting on the sidelines, they wanted to stand up for the beliefs they had. There was now more of having other people fight for them, they were going to get what they deserved. They broke free of the chains of conformity that bound them to their simple jobs. They would range anywhere from staying at home and tending t the farm to dressing up like men and actually fighting. Equal to the men, although not always seen as it, women held an array of different jobs during the civil war.
The first job that women held during the Civil War, was to encourage their family …show more content…
and let them go. Although it may not seem like one of the hardest jobs during this war, it took a toll on many women. Their job was to tell the men of their family, whether it be husbands, fathers, or sons, that they needed to go and fight. Hillstrom states, “Those who were left at home worried constantly about the safety and comfort of the husbands, fathers, and sons they had sent to battle.” They were forced to put on a brave face and let their beloved family go off into a bloody battle. Truly, one job that the women had to do in the Civil War was let their family members go off to war.
The second job that women had during the Civil War was, to boost the moral of those who were fighting. Women would often write letters to their loved one empowering them to fight through whatever hardships were coming their way. They would write letters then have to wait days or even weeks to see if their loved one was even still breathing. McMillian writes of these times saying, “Many soldiers, as they marched off to face the enemy, had left behind a wife or sweetheart, and to them they would compose sweet, poignant, and occasionally funny letters that give life and personality to the participants in this great national conflict.” It was their job to keep the soldiers spirits up. They were the ones who kept the army going. Obviously, the second job women in the Civil War did was write letter to their family that were soldiers to keep their morale up.
During the Civil War, while their husbands were off at war women had to go out and get different jobs in the community. When their husbands left, someone had to put food on the table for the family. Women found jobs doing hard labor. For example, some women went to work in factories and refineries. Fields of work that were once dominated by men now had thousands of women filling their positions. This still did not come easy to all. Frank conveys, “For poor white women, the war proved less liberating, as the demands of the war and economic hardship created major challenges in supporting themselves and their families.” Times were tough but the women were tougher. They never gave up on their families or their country. Clearly, another job women had during the Civil War was to go out in their community and find jobs.
A fourth job that women often did during the Civil war was take care of the family farm. When their husband left to go protect what they were fighting for women were left to tend to the homestead. They would do everything that they used to do before the war, plus everything their husband’s did. Thier plate was very full with chores and tasks that needed to be done. Wright explains, “The removal of hundreds of thousands of men from their homes, farms, and businesses necessitated the vastly increased participation of women, both black and white, in areas that they had been previously discouraged, if not forbidden, from pursuing.” It was their time to step up and do their part, and they were more than happy to do so. Certainly, the fourth job that women had during the Civil War was taking care of the family farm.
Women During the Civil War also had the job of supplying the troops with all the necessary items.
Many women and other citizens joined together to for the U.S. Sanitary Commision. Williams explains the U.S. Sanitary Commision as, “Church congregations, ladies aid societies and groups of all kinds volunteered to make and collect goods for soldiers in the field.” In 1861 in New York, the ladies began an effort to create an effective system of collection and distribution. They worked on gather the items that were in need, and distributing them to the places that needed them. The U.S. Sanitary commision was the forerunner of the American Red Cross. They supplied the troops with everything they needed so they could defend what they were fighting for. Undoubtedly, the women during the Civil War supplied the troops with everything that they
needed.
Another job that women occupied during the Civil war was being a Nurse during the battles. Many women felt that they could contribute to the war effort by joining as nurses. Eggleston recalls, “Women on both sides also felt a need to volunteer and contribute to the war effort. Most of these female volunteers served as nurses. Driven by the same patriotic desire as many of their male counterparts, roughly 3,300 women served as nurses for the Union Army from years 1861-1865.” Many men believed that women did not belong in the hospitals and actually rested their presence. However, in 1861, Congress authorized the Surgeon General to employ female nurses. On top of that, they even got paid $12 a month and were provided with food rations. Positively, a job that women had during the Civil War was being a nurse.
Espionage and intelligence was another job that women did during the Civil War. Both the North and the South engaged in espionage. Even though by today's standards their tactics would seem quite childish. Spies were free to travel practically at will. The boundaries between the two opposing forces existed only as lines on a map and posed no controlled barrier to travel. There were women spies on both sides of the Civil War. Engle describes this espionage as still quite Victorian in many ways. He states, “Women agents had a decided advantage over their male counterparts, as they were not likely to be as roughly interrogated or possibly executed upon discovery. Both sides took full advantage of the opportunity.” Women were seen as a very valuable weapon during this war. Both sides could use them to their advantage. Surely, women participated in espionage and intelligence during the Civil War.
Last but not least, as a job during the Civil War, women participated as soldiers. Blanton starts off by saying, “It is an accepted convention that the Civil War was a man's fight.” Men were the ones that were supposed to go off and sacrifice their lives for the good of the country. Not women. The fact is, many women dressed up like men in order to fight along them during the war. Blanton conveys, “ Men were not the only ones to fight that war. Women bore arms and charged into battle, too. Like the men, there were women who lived in camp, suffered in prisons, and died for their respective causes.” Women were willing to sacrifice just as much as men were. They believed in fighting for what they believed in. Beyond a doubt, one of the women’s job, even if it wasn’t supposed to be, was a soldier.
Women had a huge impact on the American Civil War. They obtained many different jobs throughout the bloodiest four years in United States History. Women first had to let go of their loved ones, and encourage them to go to war. Next, they would boost the soldiers morale by sending letters. Since the men had gone off to war, the women had to go out into their community and do hard labor. Another job was staying at home and taking care of the family farm. Many women worked with the U.S. Sanitary Commission, supplying the troops with the items they needed. Nursing was also a very popular job. Women spies were often more valuable during this time than their male counterpart. Lastly, some women even dressed up like men and fought on the frontlines of the battle. Smith explains, “The outbreak of the Civil War challenged traditional American notions of feminine submissiveness and domesticity with hundreds of examples of courage, diligence, and self-sacrifice in battle. The war was a formative moment in the early feminist movement.” Women had an enormous impact on this part of history. Things were not and will never be the same.
The first job that women held during the Civil War, was to encourage their family …show more content…
and let them go. Although it may not seem like one of the hardest jobs during this war, it took a toll on many women. Their job was to tell the men of their family, whether it be husbands, fathers, or sons, that they needed to go and fight. Hillstrom states, “Those who were left at home worried constantly about the safety and comfort of the husbands, fathers, and sons they had sent to battle.” They were forced to put on a brave face and let their beloved family go off into a bloody battle. Truly, one job that the women had to do in the Civil War was let their family members go off to war.
The second job that women had during the Civil War was, to boost the moral of those who were fighting. Women would often write letters to their loved one empowering them to fight through whatever hardships were coming their way. They would write letters then have to wait days or even weeks to see if their loved one was even still breathing. McMillian writes of these times saying, “Many soldiers, as they marched off to face the enemy, had left behind a wife or sweetheart, and to them they would compose sweet, poignant, and occasionally funny letters that give life and personality to the participants in this great national conflict.” It was their job to keep the soldiers spirits up. They were the ones who kept the army going. Obviously, the second job women in the Civil War did was write letter to their family that were soldiers to keep their morale up.
During the Civil War, while their husbands were off at war women had to go out and get different jobs in the community. When their husbands left, someone had to put food on the table for the family. Women found jobs doing hard labor. For example, some women went to work in factories and refineries. Fields of work that were once dominated by men now had thousands of women filling their positions. This still did not come easy to all. Frank conveys, “For poor white women, the war proved less liberating, as the demands of the war and economic hardship created major challenges in supporting themselves and their families.” Times were tough but the women were tougher. They never gave up on their families or their country. Clearly, another job women had during the Civil War was to go out in their community and find jobs.
A fourth job that women often did during the Civil war was take care of the family farm. When their husband left to go protect what they were fighting for women were left to tend to the homestead. They would do everything that they used to do before the war, plus everything their husband’s did. Thier plate was very full with chores and tasks that needed to be done. Wright explains, “The removal of hundreds of thousands of men from their homes, farms, and businesses necessitated the vastly increased participation of women, both black and white, in areas that they had been previously discouraged, if not forbidden, from pursuing.” It was their time to step up and do their part, and they were more than happy to do so. Certainly, the fourth job that women had during the Civil War was taking care of the family farm.
Women During the Civil War also had the job of supplying the troops with all the necessary items.
Many women and other citizens joined together to for the U.S. Sanitary Commision. Williams explains the U.S. Sanitary Commision as, “Church congregations, ladies aid societies and groups of all kinds volunteered to make and collect goods for soldiers in the field.” In 1861 in New York, the ladies began an effort to create an effective system of collection and distribution. They worked on gather the items that were in need, and distributing them to the places that needed them. The U.S. Sanitary commision was the forerunner of the American Red Cross. They supplied the troops with everything they needed so they could defend what they were fighting for. Undoubtedly, the women during the Civil War supplied the troops with everything that they
needed.
Another job that women occupied during the Civil war was being a Nurse during the battles. Many women felt that they could contribute to the war effort by joining as nurses. Eggleston recalls, “Women on both sides also felt a need to volunteer and contribute to the war effort. Most of these female volunteers served as nurses. Driven by the same patriotic desire as many of their male counterparts, roughly 3,300 women served as nurses for the Union Army from years 1861-1865.” Many men believed that women did not belong in the hospitals and actually rested their presence. However, in 1861, Congress authorized the Surgeon General to employ female nurses. On top of that, they even got paid $12 a month and were provided with food rations. Positively, a job that women had during the Civil War was being a nurse.
Espionage and intelligence was another job that women did during the Civil War. Both the North and the South engaged in espionage. Even though by today's standards their tactics would seem quite childish. Spies were free to travel practically at will. The boundaries between the two opposing forces existed only as lines on a map and posed no controlled barrier to travel. There were women spies on both sides of the Civil War. Engle describes this espionage as still quite Victorian in many ways. He states, “Women agents had a decided advantage over their male counterparts, as they were not likely to be as roughly interrogated or possibly executed upon discovery. Both sides took full advantage of the opportunity.” Women were seen as a very valuable weapon during this war. Both sides could use them to their advantage. Surely, women participated in espionage and intelligence during the Civil War.
Last but not least, as a job during the Civil War, women participated as soldiers. Blanton starts off by saying, “It is an accepted convention that the Civil War was a man's fight.” Men were the ones that were supposed to go off and sacrifice their lives for the good of the country. Not women. The fact is, many women dressed up like men in order to fight along them during the war. Blanton conveys, “ Men were not the only ones to fight that war. Women bore arms and charged into battle, too. Like the men, there were women who lived in camp, suffered in prisons, and died for their respective causes.” Women were willing to sacrifice just as much as men were. They believed in fighting for what they believed in. Beyond a doubt, one of the women’s job, even if it wasn’t supposed to be, was a soldier.
Women had a huge impact on the American Civil War. They obtained many different jobs throughout the bloodiest four years in United States History. Women first had to let go of their loved ones, and encourage them to go to war. Next, they would boost the soldiers morale by sending letters. Since the men had gone off to war, the women had to go out into their community and do hard labor. Another job was staying at home and taking care of the family farm. Many women worked with the U.S. Sanitary Commission, supplying the troops with the items they needed. Nursing was also a very popular job. Women spies were often more valuable during this time than their male counterpart. Lastly, some women even dressed up like men and fought on the frontlines of the battle. Smith explains, “The outbreak of the Civil War challenged traditional American notions of feminine submissiveness and domesticity with hundreds of examples of courage, diligence, and self-sacrifice in battle. The war was a formative moment in the early feminist movement.” Women had an enormous impact on this part of history. Things were not and will never be the same.