chap 3

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Recommended: Impacts of the First World War

The post war impacts of the “war of brothers” was vastly different in the North and South. The North had very little physical damage to repair, as most of the battles were fought below the Mason Dixon line. Even the impact of men not returning to their northern families was significantly less when compared to the loss of family members in the south. But whether fathers and sons were killed fighting for the north or the south, families needed rebuilding. Family homes were often caught in the middle of fierce fighting and artillery barrages. If a family returned to their home they would find little to celebrate. Reconstruction in the south wasn’t going to help the family rebuild their home and their families. Photo by James Gardner, 1862 Virginia, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division The scars of hard fought battles that destroyed businesses, homes and lands were a constant image in the south. Thousands of Union and CSA maimed amputees returned home with their physical damage clearly seen. The invisible scars on the hearts and bodies of the men weren’t as discernible. The hidden scars of seeing lives extinguished and the cries of the dying left scars that would make the able bodied weak. Family reunions were not all joyous occasions. Some men had no homes to return to or their families had fled the homestead as refugees from war. Often the return of one family member highlighted the fact that many other husbands, brothers, sisters and mothers would not be returning. Men marching into battle were expected casualties of war. The families that remained in their homes should have been safe, but they were not. One of the best known instances is Virginia “Jennie” Wade, who was killed at Gettysburg. ... ... middle of paper ... ...f the family. During the war women had to take on more responsibilities. In the south the women not only had to care for the children but take care of planting, harvesting, slaughtering animals, repairing damage to the property and simply surviving. For many women an end to the war did not mean an end to the difficult life into which they had been thrust. The planter class was possibly more impacted by the war than any other group. The social positions, the refinements and possessions were all gone. Plantation women sold their jewelry, silver and anything else of value to help support the war and their families. What hadn’t been sold was very likely looted if not well hidden. Poor white and free black women were already used to dealing with having less and while their lives became more difficult, these women better prepared to deal with adversity of war.

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