Women of the Civil War
Women may have been little recognized for their contributions to the war effort, but they were not untouched (Civil War Women). The women of the Civil War held many jobs and contributed greatly to the war. Loreta Velazquez disguised herself as a Confederate soldier and Rose O’Neal Greenhow was a spy for the Confederates and Louisa May Alcott was a nurse for the Union soldiers.
During the Civil War, women disguise themselves as men to help the war efforts. They disguised themselves for many reasons including: to fight for their country, to fight for their rights, to fight along side their husbands (A, B, C.) Loreta Velazquez was one of many women soldiers, she disguised herself as a soldier when her husband left for war and did not take her (Chang 50). Loreta Velazquez was as good as any other soldier, “Notwithstanding the fact that I was a woman, I was as good a soldier as any man around me, and as willing as any to fight valiantly and to the bitter end before yielding” Velazquez said (Women in Uniform in the Civil War). Loreta Velazquez’s role in the Confederate Army, the Forty’s say that “She fought valiantly, helping to beat off wave after wave of the attackers, in sleet, snow, and high winds of a bitter February (Military Women). Even though Loreta was a woman, she fought as hard as any man did.
Many women who went to fight had to disguise themselves to look like men. Loreta Velazquez was a very convincing man, with her black-cropped short hair, and glued on facial hair. Velazquez even went to the lengths of practicing a low voice, a manly walk, and learned to spit in the streets (Chang 50). When trying on the Confederate uniform, Loreta could still tell she was a woman. What did Loreta Velazquez...
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...nd became a commander. Rose O’Neal Greenhow was a spy for the Confederates; she was arrested for treason, but welcomed back as a heroine. Louisa May Alcott was a Union nurse, who did multiple daily tasks, and worked, in harsh conditions. There are many other women, who contributed to the Civil War, but these were just a few.
Work Cited
Chang, Ina. A Separate Battle: Women and the Civil War. New York: Penguin Group. 1996. Print.
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“Military Women..” Contemporary Women’s Issues. Database. 01 Sept. 2003: 35. eLibrary. Web. 05 Mar. 2014.
“Rose O’Neal Greenhow.” Britannica School. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 05 Mar. 2014
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Clinton, Catherine. The Other Civil War, American Women in the Nineteenth Century: Hill and Wang, New York 1986
Great people often arise from unlikely places. During the civil war women were barred from serving in the army; however, women did sometimes disguise themselves as men and enlisted in both the Confederate and Union armies. During the Civil War years of 1861 to 18-65, soldiers under arms mailed countless letters home from the front. There are multiple accounts of women serving in military units during the Civil War, but a majority of these incidents are extremely hard to verify. Nevertheless, there is the one well-documented incident of the female Civil War soldier by the name of Sarah Rosetta Wakeman.
From the end of the draft in 1973 to the military data from 2003, the number of women in service rose from 2 percent to 12 percent. A sample of military women studied in 1991 showed 69 percent to have experienced sexual harassmen...
Within Megan H. Mackenzie’s essay, “Let Women Fight” she points out many facts about women serving in the U.S. military. She emphasizes the three central arguments that people have brought up about women fighting in the military. The arguments she states are that women cannot meet the physical requirements necessary to fight, they simply don’t belong in combat, and that their inclusion in fighting units would disrupt those units’ cohesion and battle readiness. The 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act built a permanent corps of women in all the military departments, which was a big step forward at that time. Although there were many restrictions that were put on women, an increase of women in the U.S. armed forces happened during
During the mid-1800s, separation in America between the North and the South became prevalent, especially over the idea of slavery, which eventually led to the Civil War. Women did not have much power during this time period, but under the stress and shortages of the War, they became necessary to help in fighting on and off the battlefields, such as by becoming nurses, spies, soldiers, and abolitionists (Brown). Many women gave so much assistance and guidance, that they made lasting impacts on the War in favor of who they were fighting for. Three inspiring and determined women who made huge impacts on contributing to the American Civil War are Rose O’Neal Greenhow, who worked as a spy for the Confederacy leading to multiple victories, Clara Barton, who worked as a nurse, a soldier, and formed the American Red Cross to continue saving lives, and Harriet Tubman, who conducted the Underground Railroad sending slaves to freedom, which enabled them and their actions to be remembered forever (Brown).
Prior to the Civil War, the South was a society based on strict racial and gender hierarchies. Seemingly, elite southern women did not advocate for social and political change because they were content not to disrupt the gender hierarchy of their society. Their subordinacy to elite southern men and their society's view of ladylike characteristics was central to how southern women defined themselves. In order to advocate for change, elite southern women would have had to become unladylike and willing to give up a lifestyle that made them comfortable. Ultimately, since these women were not comfortable changing or giving up their lifestyle, most did nothing to aid social and political change.
When first examining the documentation it is difficult to comprehend whether women were being patronized or treated too delicately; the fact of the matter is the average treatment of women during this era was radically different from society’s attitude toward men. It is also evident women exploited stereotypes to their advantage. Larry G. Eggleston explains the particular viewpoint of American society in Women of the Civil War as “Women were held with respect even though they were considered to be the weaker sex. Many women broke away from society’s traditional view of women when the Civil War began” (1). To avoid detection agents often manipulated social stigmas. Traditionally, Men were expected to join their countrymen upon the battlefield and women were to remain at home attempting to keep order. Some women were equally effective from their posts at home, while acting as scouts for their respected causes.
Women in the Civil War and how they contributed to the war effort Women played an important role throughout American history. They were known in the Civil War to be doing various acts. Women had enlisted in the army as soldiers, spied and gathered information about the enemy, took care of wounded soldiers, traveled and helped within the military camps and even took over their husbands’ businesses. There were many things that they did to contribute to the war just as much as the men did. Even though it was dangerous they still helped whether it was on the battlefield, in a hospital, or at home, they still tried to help out the best they could.
In the book Women in the Civil War, by Mary Massey, the author tells about how American women had an impact on the Civil War. She mentioned quite a few famous and well-known women such as, Dorothea Dix and Clara Barton, who were nurses, and Pauline Cushman and Belle Boyd, who were spies. She also mentioned black abolitionists, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, feminist Susan B. Anthony, and many more women. Massey talks about how the concept of women changed as a result of the war. She informed the readers about the many accomplishments made by those women.
Women became an essential part of the Civil War. They took roles as nurses, spies, and even soldiers. Dorothea Lynde Dix (1802-1887) was an author, teacher, and a reformer. As a reformer, Dix created dozens of institutions for prisoners and mentally ill in the United States and Europe. She greatly helped improve the common people’s perception of these populations. During the Civil War, she helped with military hospital administration and worked as an advocate for female nurses. Dix gave up her time and volunteered to organize and outfit the Union Army hospitals in April 1861. As Superintendent of Women Nurses, Dix oversaw the entire nursing staff. She was the first woman to serve in such a high, federally appointed position. Her administrative skills were highly needed to control the flow of clothing and bandages as the war progressed. Army officials and female nurses were highly intimidated by her and were fearful of her. They eventually got Dix removed from her position in 1863. After being ousted, she returned to reforming the treatment of the mentally ill.
When the American Civil War began on April 12th, 1861, over 3 million Union and Confederate soldiers prepared for battle. Men from all over America were called upon to support their side in the confrontation. While their battles are well documented and historically analyzed for over a hundred years, there is one aspect, one dark spot missing from the picture: the role of women in the American Civil War. From staying at home to take care of the children to disguising themselves as men to fight on the battlefield, women contributed in many ways to the war effort on both sides. Though very few women are recognized for their vital contributions, even fewer are.
... The General Accounting Office concluded in a hearing on May 8th 1999 that combat inclusion is the greatest impediment to women attaining higher military rank. Until qualified women are given access to assignments that are central to the militaries mission, they will be marginalized. Sexual harassment is a huge problem
"Update: Women in the Military." Issues and Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 29 May 2007. Web.
Women during the Civil War were forced into life-style changes which they had never dreamed they would have to endure. No one was spared from the devastation of the war, and many lives were changed forever. Women in the south were forced to take on the responsibilities of their husbands, carrying on the daily responsibilities of the farm or plantation. They maintained their homes and families while husbands and sons fought and died for their beliefs. Many women took the advantage of their opinions being heard, and for the first time
Ruby, J. (2005, November 1). Women in Combat Roles: Is That the Question?. Off Our Backs,35, 36.