War
The Civil War was the first war in American history where women played a significant role. Although this was a war for freedom, it increased the workload of white and enslaved women alike.
Before the Civil War, women were devoted to the home, especially as men began working long hours in factories, shops, and offices. However, once the war began, many joined volunteer brigades and signed up to work as nurse. Over 400 women on both sides even disguised themselves as men in order to fight in the war.
In 1861, women in the North organized ladies' aid societies to provide everything the Union soldiers might need from food to clothes to money. Inspired by Florence Nightingale, women wanted to work on the front lines caring for the sick and wounded, and keeping everyone safe and healthy. In response, the federal government created the United States Sanitary Commission to prevent diseases and infections by improving camp and hospital living conditions. By the end of the war the USSR had provided approximately $15 million worth of supplies to soldiers, most of which were collected by women.
About 20,000 women work for the Union in more direct ways. Working-class white women, as well as free and enslaved African-American women worked as laundresses, and "matrons", and almost 3,000 white women worked as nurses.
These nurses went from one hospital to the next tending to the sick, wounded, and dying, while also acting as mother and housekeeper to the other soldiers. Dorothea Dix, the Army nurse superintendent, asked for women who were maternal and responsible, but wouldn't distract the soldiers or behave in unseemly and unfeminine ways. She also asked that they be over 30 years of age, healthy, plain, and without feminine charm. One of those who volunteered was Louisa May Alcott, who is famous for writing Little Women and many others, all under various pseudonyms.
However unlike the North, the South was low on resources. Although Southern women were just as excited and willing to help as Northern women were, the rich white women did little themselves since they had slaves to do it for them. In addition, slave women were not allowed to contribute to the Union cause.
Before the Civil War, women were devoted to the home, especially as men began working long hours in factories, shops, and offices. However, once the war began, many joined volunteer brigades and signed up to work as nurse. Over 400 women on both sides even disguised themselves as men in order to fight in the war.
In 1861, women in the North organized ladies' aid societies to provide everything the Union soldiers might need from food to clothes to money. Inspired by Florence Nightingale, women wanted to work on the front lines caring for the sick and wounded, and keeping everyone safe and healthy. In response, the federal government created the United States Sanitary Commission to prevent diseases and infections by improving camp and hospital living conditions. By the end of the war the USSR had provided approximately $15 million worth of supplies to soldiers, most of which were collected by women.
About 20,000 women work for the Union in more direct ways. Working-class white women, as well as free and enslaved African-American women worked as laundresses, and "matrons", and almost 3,000 white women worked as nurses.
These nurses went from one hospital to the next tending to the sick, wounded, and dying, while also acting as mother and housekeeper to the other soldiers. Dorothea Dix, the Army nurse superintendent, asked for women who were maternal and responsible, but wouldn't distract the soldiers or behave in unseemly and unfeminine ways. She also asked that they be over 30 years of age, healthy, plain, and without feminine charm. One of those who volunteered was Louisa May Alcott, who is famous for writing Little Women and many others, all under various pseudonyms.
However unlike the North, the South was low on resources. Although Southern women were just as excited and willing to help as Northern women were, the rich white women did little themselves since they had slaves to do it for them. In addition, slave women were not allowed to contribute to the Union cause.