Essay On Clara Barton

Puritan leader John Winthrop described America as a “city on a hill”: a precedent to England and the land of a truly extraordinary society. This phrase became well-known and classified the United States as an exceptional and exemplary nation. The idea of “American exceptionalism” means that America is drastically different and superior to any other country. In some cases, a single person can improve a country’s reputation. Clara Barton is one among these significant people. She founded the American Red Cross corporation which provides emergency assistance and disaster relief. Barton exemplifies individualism. Individualism is the act of being independant and self-sufficient. Barton improves the exceptionalism of the United States by assisting

When the Civil War broke out, she was one of the first volunteers to appear at the Washington Infirmary to care for the wounded soldiers. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Barton saw pictures of her former students, who were now serving in the war. She sought to help the soldiers in any possible way she could. At first, she collected and distributed supplies for the Union Army. Supplies included bandages, food, and clothing. Barton became dissatisfied with not being involved enough, and served as an independent nurse in 1862 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She cared for soldiers wounded at Antietam, as well. The nickname “the angel of the battlefield” was given to Barton for her hard work and dedication. After the war ended in 1865, she worked for the War Department, helping to reunite missing soldiers and their families or find out more about missing soldiers. She also became a lecturer and huge groups of people came to hear her speak about her war

She was introduced to a wider field of service through the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. Later after returning home to the United States, she began to advocate for an American branch of the international organization. Barton tried to convince President Rutherford Hayes, the Secretary of State and Congress, to have the United States join the International Red Cross. However, months went by and Congress had not signed the treaty yet to join the International Red Cross, so Barton and her acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. She served as its first president. Barton oversaw relief work for the victims of such disasters as the Johnson Flood of 1889 and the Galveston Flood of 1900. Barton led the American Red Cross from 1881 to 1904. In 1905, she established the National First Aid Society to educate people how to give first aid and save lives even when health workers are not