Women and the Civil War

Your Name

Instructor 's Name

Course

Date

Civil War and Women

Civil War remains one of the most important sagas of American and every element of this event has been captured , recoded and preserved except the role of women (Richard Hall ) Only the role of the abolitionist politicians , soldiers and military personnel and Lincoln 's administration has been highlighted and celebrated . Even over the past four to five decades , the role of Afro-Americans also came into the limelight but women 's role and importance pertaining to Civil War has

br only recently been recognized . Women contributed in various capacities during the war from both sides i .e . South and North . They worked as soldiers , spies , nurses and supply chain personnel (Blanton 1993 )The contextual background of the contemporary society must be considered while analyzing the role of these women . Woman was regarded a domestic commodity during those years . Her role was restricted to domestic arena only . She was and bearing the children and work in the plantations whenever required Social norm prevented her to leave house without the permission and /or accompaniment of a male family members (Richard Hall ) War brought revolution in their life as they started face by face with men for the great cause of the war

Firstly , they adopted to live on their own as men left for military recruitment and warfare . It not changed then physically and socially but it also affected them psychologically . Physically they had to take more physical effort to work and survive . Socially they were included in every important decision and their will and choice were recognized in the absence of men . They contributed toward every task for the society Psychologically , they showed courage to match to the necessities of the times . Their behaviour patterns and thinking were changed . Above all they directly participated in war in the form of soldiers and spies Ones who could fight directly helped as nurses , laundresses , spies vivandiere 's , Sanitary and Christian Commission workers , for newss for example

Both the Union and Confederate armies forbade the enlistment of women Women soldiers of the Civil War therefore assumed masculine names disguised themselves as men , and hid the fact they were female . Because they passed as men , it is impossible to know with any certainty how many women soldiers served in the Civil War . Estimates place as many as 250 women in the ranks of the Confederate army (Blanton 1993

Heavy causalities and injuries became a norm of the day with the advent of war in 1861 . Death toll increased on both sides due to the absence of supporting medical staff and nurses . Within two months (in June 1861 ) it was realized that women are needed to nurse and hospitalize the wounded army-men . Lincoln administration appointed Dorothea Dix as the Superintendent of Army Nurses on the recommendation of Cameron (War Secretary . This was not a proactive decision but it was followed by volunteer movement ion the part of women to tag along with their men on the...