What did women do in the American Civil War?

Answer 1

Women coiuld not fight in the civil war, but they made many contributions to the war effort. Thousands served as Union army nurses and confederate nurses; Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, was one of the most famous Union nurses. Also, many women had to take over their husbands jobs of managing their farms or working in factories to provide for their families.

Answer 2

IN the Civil War, or during that time? In the war, women were either nurses or camp followers ( hookers, named so after a Civil War officer) . On the homefront, women were wives and mothers of LARGE families. There were a few female authors, of course, often under a masculine pen name. Overall, women's choices were very limited.

Answer 3

Women did just about everything during the Civil War, including fighting. They followed the armies (both sides) made up of their men folk and cooked, did laundry, nursed and took food and water to them when they were at battle.

There were some who stayed at home and spied for their side of choice and about 400 (?) that dressed as men and went to fight. some only found out when they became pregnant, or were wounded.

Those that stayed at home had to run the farms, businesses, mills, and plantations. Lots of the southern women had a major problem with this because they were pampered and didn't know a lot about getting their hands dirty--which makes it even more remarkable that they were able to adapt at all.

Of course there were also the "ladies of the evening" that went to war with the men. They earned their money the old fashion way. I have some links to sites where you can find out more on my website. http://www.wandakeesey.com

Answer 4

There is a book titled Amazing Women of the Civil War by Webb Garrison. It covers many women and their occupations/jobs during that time period. Just to name a few:Harriet Tubman,Mary Walker MD,Julie Dent Grant,Harriet Beecher Stowe,Mary Todd Lincoln, Julia Ward Howe, Louisa May Alcott. Take your pick, they did everything and anything.

Answer 5

I think I am going to request the Dean of admissions to ask everyone to Boston/ Cambridge to discuss this question I cannot believe what are suppose to be answers by educated persons.

The 1810, 1830 and 1850 census showed the South to be made up of roughly 50% Celtic, 30% English and the remaining 20% were German, French or Spanish. The Irish Potatoes famine of 1846-1850 killed a million plus Irishmen, the problem there was food but the British took it for themselves. Another good example of who has suffered under slavery. The real point the majority of English settled up North and continued to this day their opinion of superiority and want of control over our lot.

Visions of groups of slaves was untrue most farm had one or two slaves and the owners black or white worked along beside them, Blacks and whites prior to reconstruction was different then what anyone believes took place. If thirteen percentages of Southerns owned slaves, it sure left a great deal of Southroners with nothing.

Women suffrage was the same for both North and South women could not vote, hold most office and many occupations were denied them. The women in the South suffered much more and it continues today. The Bible belt was and is more traditional in it’s belief as to the role of women and men. The Southern woman is credited with keeping the war going on as long as it had and it is felt in many circles ending it. When they could no longer manage the farms, factories and the shortages and lack of food they called their men home. One big issue in many cases there were no men to come home. Therefore, in the beginning Southern women either continued normal men occupations or began them.


By the way, Southroner women were poorer in every sense of the word. Women then as now did everything. Southern women due to shortages had bread riots begging for food. They ate what their men ate parched corn and corn bread. They had to boil the wood from smoke house to get the salt; they turned to home remedies for medicine and for the day to day issues. There is a song, which goes something like this every time she raises her skirt she shoots another yankee soldier; what they were doing was gathering the nightly body waste from the slop-jar into “Honey wagons”. They then used it in making gun powder. Nothing has ever been easy in the South and it appears nothing is ever going to change.

God Bless You and Our Southron People.

Answer 6

Many of them ran their husbands' farms, businesses, homes, plantations, etc while they were absent. Some served as nurses in the army. Many made clothing and food to support the soldiers. A very small number managed to pretend to be men and fought in the army.

Answer 7

same thing they do now. cook a hot plate, clean the house, do dishes, support the family. Oh and think they actually worked in the factories back then too. go women!

Answer 8

they also spied for both sides. there were several who were very clever in helping both sides.