ipl-logo

Essay On Women In The Civil War

1770 Words8 Pages

Hundreds of thousands of men risked their lives in the Civil War, but history tends to leave out all the women who went against what society believed and courageously contributed their efforts to the fight. American women witnessed their fathers, husbands, and brothers go off to fight in the Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. These women held the choice to watch the battles and all the action from their homes or to stand up for their beliefs and find a way to help. Their contribution, whether it be on the battlefront or along the sidelines, forced American society to rethink the stereotypical submissiveness of the traditional housewife and served as a push in the ongoing struggle for gender equality. As a whole, women found many ways to contribute a great deal …show more content…

Up to 750 women were estimated to be enlisted and fought in every major battle of the war. These brave women were motivated by adventure, promising pay, and loyalty to their cause. This, combined with that fact that they knew they had the power to help, drove many American women to conceal their gender and participate in the military (Smith 3 - 4). “I could only thank God that I was free and could go forward and work, and I was not obliged to stay at home and weep" (Smith 4). Although this seems like it would be difficult to do, meager training requirements, sanitary customs, and bulky uniforms at the time made it much simpler to keep these women 's identities a secret. More specifically, most people were citizen soldiers who had no prior experience, which meant that the women would get the same amount of training as their male counterparts. Also, it was culturally practiced to sleep in your clothes and bathe separately, which happened to benefit the many female soldiers in this time period (Smith 6). In conclusion, these women were notably intelligent and played a key part in the Civil War

Show More
Related
1365 Words | 6 Pages

The Civil War, fought mostly by men, is often referred to as the war of brother against brother. Although there were a few women who engaged in the battles alongside the men, the number was very small and their direct contribution to battle was probably not very significant. This is not to say that women were not important to the Civil War. Women were very influential in the national crisis and their contributions were arguably just as important as the male soldier’s on the battlefield. On both sides of the war, women employed their strength, intelligence, and compassion in the critical roles of abolitionists, civil right’s advocates, nurses and spies.

Read More
926 Words | 4 Pages

Many women made direct contributions to the American Civil War efforts as nurses, spies, government employees, factory workers, and members of aid societies. Women’s responsibilities during the Civil War increased enormously. Women also contributed to the war effort, collecting supplies for the troops and working as nurses, spies, and scouts. White Georgia women took an active and educated part in the movement to separate the South from the North. Some formed aid societies, which were groups that raised money and collected food, clothing, medicine, and other supplies for the troops or for wounded soldiers and their families.

Read More
110 Words | 1 Pages

Between 1861 and 1865 men were obligated to leave their homes and fight either on the union or confederate side of the United States. As a result women were forced to maintain the households while the primary breadwinners were gone. The Civil War challenged the ideology of the roles of women in the antebellum era. The roles of women in the north and south transformed tremendously and became a pivotal aspect to the war. One duty women took during the Civil War was become supporters of their male loved ones, which proved to be influential since it raised the morals of the men and gave them something to survive for.

Read More
1303 Words | 6 Pages

Information on the Revolutionary War typically focuses on the Founding Fathers and their actions that brought about American independence. Few women are ever spoken about, one might hear of Abbigail Adams or Betsy Ross but that is it. Berkin says that while women played no formal role in the revolution, they actively participated and without their help many men

Read More
783 Words | 4 Pages

During the War many things had to change in order for the country to survive and function. With so many of the able bodied men off fighting in the war women had to take things into their own hands in order to get things done and many of them did. Many women with their husbands and family members gone to help provide for their family and assist the war effort worked in war factories and did other jobs that were usually viewed as just for men. The jobs that many women took

Read More
1888 Words | 8 Pages

In fact, women play a small role in the events leading to the Civil War and the result of the Civil War itself. There existed differences in a woman’s life when living in the North versus the South; such as, the opportunity to work in a factory. The South maintained its conservative culture which revolved around the dominance of the white man, and women had little role in society. Overall, opportunities presented itself in the North for women to integrate into society and be something besides being a staple to man. Regarding women in the civil war, their most substantial role consisted of being a spy; Harriet Tubman was the most famous Union spy.

Read More
820 Words | 4 Pages

After the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, tensions grew between the colonies and Great Britain. The era of salutary neglect drastically changed the relationship between Britain and the colonies. Although some colonial citizens encouraged the idea of revolution, others were concerned about being separated from Great Britain. During the mid 1700’s women played a small role in society since men were considered more important. However women’s support or lack of, impacted the outcome of the revolution.

Read More
752 Words | 4 Pages

Wives, mothers, and daughters, of Patriot soldiers were left to operate businesses and keep up with the duties of farms. Other women followed their soldiers to the battlefield. Though their presence around the army men was oftentimes controversial - they were commonly regarded as nuisances - having women around to clean and cook, along with being companions, benefited the American army. Women that wanted to fill the boots that their husbands left, or step up to the plate on their own, would disguise themselves as men so they could participate in battle. Post-war women’s roles were seemingly regarded the same as they had been before.

Read More
943 Words | 4 Pages

During the civil war women had to find jobs or maybe even try and make their own job, because men had to fight and women never knew if they would see

Read More
1145 Words | 5 Pages

Yet, women were expected to set aside their personal beliefs to insure that America could still make further advancements without its men. However, women still complied because they knew the responsibility laid with them to keep the nation running. Still, much of propaganda had a purpose to motivate women to lend a helping hand in the war. As Susan Mathis said, “The patriotic appeal had two aspects… ‘do your part’... ‘a soldier may die if you don’t do your part’...”

Read More
1200 Words | 5 Pages

Important Women and their Role in the Civil War The American Civil war lasted for four years from 1861-1865. The war occurred because of a controversy on differences of beliefs, with the primary reason being slavery and state’s rights. The war resulted in the killing of over 600,000 soldiers. The war had a lot of advances in American culture.

Read More
1545 Words | 7 Pages

Women also faced, “severe shortages of food, clothing, and other goods, while inflation raised the price of everything they had to buy. Spare parts for farm equipment were hard to find,” (Senker). That never stopped these strong females. Without them, the community life during the war would have been in ruins. The whole town would have suffered if females didn’t step up when their male partners left for war.

Read More
606 Words | 3 Pages

Justin Lau (Wingkit) Professor Rogers History 100AC 29 September 2015 Response Paper: “The Women Is as Bad as the Men- Women 's Participation in the Inner Civil War.” , “General Benjamin Butler and the threat of Sexual Violence during the American Civil War”, “General Butler and the Women” and “The Other Side of the Freedom” A lot of North Carolina women showed uncooperative actions on the disorderliness by participating the protest in order to maintain their communities and social orders. These women would prefer to join the conflict that separated state and community rather than being its victims. Thus, their loyalties to husbands and sons, and strong determination of protecting their own property prompted them to disregard the female’s conventional behaviors.

Read More
757 Words | 4 Pages

Introduction: Before the Civil War, the roles of women were to stay home, cook, clean and take care of the children. Women were looked down upon. They were denied of their natural rights, that all men are created equal. During this time period, women weren't being taken seriously, they were considered weak, they were considered to be less intelligent than men. Something needed to be done in order for women to receive the same rights as men.

Read More
774 Words | 4 Pages

The drafting of the females would increase the numbers of females on the front where the enemy could capture the females. If the enemy were to capture the females what's to stop them from using, or abusing them if they are fine with murder in cold blood. The men would most likely go out of their way to try to protect the women, in addition to kill the enemy causing more casualties on the U.S. side. If women were drafted the 14% of women on the front would go up. “The Daily Wire” states how the females will have to kill without a second thought to it.

Read More

More about Essay On Women In The Civil War

Related Topics

Open Document