Having thoroughly analyzed the ways in which the Civil War profoundly altered concepts of womanhood and domesticity, the same method must be undertaken in examining these changing concepts within the South as well. Within his article entitled “Altars of Sacrifice: Confederate Women and the Narratives of War,” Drew Gilpin Faust emphasizes the importance of the Civil War as it stood out among other wars for “the place of women in that conflict stimulated especially significant examination and discussion of women’s appropriate relationship to war – and thus to society in general.” Moreover, he further stresses that while both the North and South were greatly dependent on the female population, the South seems to have relied on female participation …show more content…
By these means, the Confederacy placed a much more significant emphasis on the concept of sacrifice that Southern women experienced and what this entailed. This can be further observed as Faust acknowledges the snowball effect that sacrifice gradually developed into as he notes that, “First luxuries, then necessities were to be relinquished for the Cause” (Faust 1212). In this manner, the sacrifice of women for the confederacy encompassed not only their undying support for the war and their responsibility for the South’s morale, but also their very own belongings and livelihood. While instances of great sacrifice were certainly existent in the North, it seems to have been much more of a prevalent concept for Southern war efforts and highlights a profound example in how the war significantly impacted the South in similar, but also contrasting ways. There was a recognizable expectation placed on women that they should give up and sacrifice not just luxurious commodities but even basic necessities that would further the Southern cause. It is precisely this expectation, of Southern women’s responsibility for the morale, support, and sacrifice of the Confederacy, that ultimately led to the gradual disapproval of both the government and Southern …show more content…
Crystal N. Feimster, author of “General Benjamin Butler & the Threat of Sexual Violence during the American Civil War,” makes this fact known. Gradually, the fear of being sexually assaulted and raped became a widespread fear for Southern women as Yankees came barreling down into Southern territory. While some Confederate soldiers remained in towns to defend citizens from Union troops, they often quickly fled, leaving Southern women to fend for themselves, not only from the dangers of warfare, but sexual violence as well, which quickly became a woman’s most powerful fear. Feimster acknowledges that much of the sexual violence that occurred may have often been the result of the behavior and negligence Southern women displayed towards federal troops, spitting on them and loudly expressing their discontentment with the North (Feimster 128). While Northern women likely experienced sexual violence from Confederate troops, Southern women seemed to have been the victim of such acts to a much higher degree. While there remained great similarities between the experiences of Northern and Southern women, the ever-looming threat of sexual violence and rape seems to have been one of the many poignant examples of the ways in which the Confederacy
Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy abolitionist, a woman who shows compassion towards the union despite her upbringing in a confederate state. A woman who actively bought slaves to free them, and later continued to her honorable deeds to benefit the union. This paper will argue that, Elizabeth Van Lew selflessly put the Union needs above her own, knowing that it was a dangerous act. Her motivations were pure and unselfish. The altruistic acts that she committed to resulted in her being one of the most successful and heroic union spies.
Katie Helm, in The True Story of Mary, wife of Lincoln, provides a unique view into the life of the First Lady during the Civil war as only a family member could. Since she was the daughter of Emile Todd the half-sister of Mary Lincoln, Ms. Helm was able to collect information for her aunt’s biography directly from her mother’s memory and her access to the Todd family diaries and letters. Therefore she reveals through the knowledge she gained from her family, the struggles Mary Lincoln faced during the Civil War. As men were falling continuously in battle, Mrs. Lincoln inevitably felt the pain of losing three of her own brothers who had fought on the side of the Confederates. Devastatingly, she dared not show her grief over her losses
Finding herself in the spotlight during a tense and bloody war, Mary Lincoln faced the unfortunate coincidence of being both southern born and the wife of a Unionist leader. “An obvious point of attack upon a First Lady with relatives fighting on the Confederate side was disloyalty. She was accused of acting as a rebel spy,” Ruth Painter describes as she further explains how the hatred and spite targeted at Mary Lincoln was reserved specifically for traitors. In addition, William Evans comments how, “the extreme elements in the South, on the other hand, hated Mrs. Lincoln because, in point of fact she was intensely loyal to her husband and to the Union cause.” Just as one feels the effects of a physical wound, so was Mary Lincoln seared by
The civil war was a time in history that was tragic to all. Women’s rights were very limited to none. Women had no right to approach men. Women had no rights to vote. Women had no rights to own land.
The United States Civil War is possible one of the most meaningful, bloodstained and controversial war fought in American history. Northern Americans against Southern Americans fought against one another for a variety of motives. These motives aroused from a wide range of ideologies that stirred around the states. In James M. McPherson’s What they fought for: 1861-1865, he analyzes the Union and Confederate soldier’s morale and ideological components through the letters they wrote to love ones while at war. While, John WhiteClay Chambers and G. Kurt Piehler depict Civil War soldiers through their letters detailing the agonizing battles of war in Major Problems in American Military History.
If given the choice to be a slave, a white woman, or a white man throughout the pre-civil war era, a white man would always end up being the common choice. Catherine Clinton delved into the oppression of women in the 19th century, which was often overlooked in history, throughout her book: The Plantation Mistresses: Woman’s World in the Old South. From the role of religion, to the importance of the family circle, and even the examination of moral standards, Clinton pointed out that in every aspect of Old South living, a woman’s status always fell beneath that of a man’s. Throughout her book, Catherine Clinton brought forth an argument of a biracial salve society that had never been mentioned before; through the use of personal accounts written
The war between the North and the South, also known as the Civil War, was pivotal event for black suffrage and helped shape our modern day society. Although it caused a tragic loss of American life due to discordant values, the Civil War was a necessary evil as the United States would be unrecognizable if it hadn’t. This paper will discuss the multifaceted instigators of the Civil War, the tactical advantages and disadvantages of each dissenting side, and the effects of the war on the daily lives of the Confederate civilians. While the elimination of slavery is often cited as the principal motivation to start the Civil War, there were several other cultural, political, economic. and ideological factors that were major contributions.
Meanwhile, their stance “behind” him implies this feeling of inferiority feeding this belief that men are the only ones with enough strength to take the action, while women have to cheer them on from behind in order to be protected. Through her repetition, Lee conveys that women are constantly being bombarded by outside stimuli with pictures and ideas of men carrying out all the work in order to preserve the Southern
The Fight for Women’s Independence When thinking about the Revolutionary War, we think about the American colonist fighting against British rule for America’s freedom. In Carol Berkin’s book, Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the struggle for America’s Indepe6ndence, we are shown through women’s eyes how the war affects them, and not just the army’s that fought in the war. The war saw changes in women that were different than their style of life had been, although not always recognized by the men who fought the war. Berkin argues that women were still treated the same as before the war, no matter the struggle for independence for their nation and themselves. I agree with Carol Berkin, because women did what they could at home or in the front
Life for the Union Soldier was not only brutal on the battlefield, but the camp life for a Union soldier was just as cruel. With the lack of personal hygiene, unsavory and repugnant food, and the shortage of clothing made living, a very difficult thing to do. Growth in the number of people with diseases was also a contributing factor to the massive amounts of death within the camp and as well as the post-battle wounds that often left either a man with one less limb or put in a mental institution. A Union Soldier’s life during the Civil War was cruel and horrific during their stay at the camps.
However, this huge sacrifice did not come without a price. Women in the Confederacy States had to stay home and take care of the plantations and manage the slaves they had while their husbands went to war. Women also feared losing many men who were part of their families in a war that resulted in many Americans losing their lives (189). I believe The Gilded Age brought more change and opportunities to women than the Civil War did.
The Civil War was a series of battles fought from 1861 to 1865 between the North, the Union, and the South, the Confederacy, of the United States of America over the disagreements on the acceptance of slavery. It was a long fought war with high casualties on both sides. Due to that, even more civilians were needed to become soldiers, spies, and etc. Men were always the ones that were expected to fill those positions, despite some of them not wanting to. Women were expected to stay home as the men in their life left for the war.
According to the article, Feimster suggests, “statistically, during the civil war many southern women fear sexual assault, and hundred, perhaps thousands of women suffered rape. Even though the military defined rape as a crime punishable by court-martial, even execution.” As a result, sexual violation of women had been prevalent during the civil
In chapter one of What They Fought For, I learned about the letters and diaries of the Confederate soldiers. The themes of the letters were home-sickness, lack of peace, and the defense of home against their invading enemy. The thought of soldiers fighting for their homes and being threatened by invaders, made them stronger when facing adversity. Many men expressed that they would rather die fighting for a cause, than dying without trying and this commitment showed patriotism. Throughout the letters, soldiers claimed their reason for fighting, was for the principles of Constitutional liberty and self-government.
The life of Women in the late 1800s. Life for women in the 1800s began to change as they pushed for more rights and equality. Still, men were seen as better than women, this way of thinking pushed women to break out from the limitations imposed on their sex. In the early 1800s women had virtually no rights and ultimately were not seen as people but they rather seen as items of possession, it wasn’t until the late 1800s that women started to gain more rights. The Civil War actually opened opportunities for women to gain more rights, because with many of the men gone to war women were left with the responsibilities that men usually fulfilled during that time period.