Clara Barton Character Traits

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Clara Barton is one of the most influential women during the time of the Civil war, and in the history of healthcare, for majorly improving the importance and duty of the medical service by creating the American Red Cross. Growing up with a servant’s heart, she faced many hard challenges that would later help mold her into someone strong and successful. Barton was passionate, devoted, strong-minded, and humble which was shown in all she did. At a young age in her life, Clara Barton’s brother, David, was in an accident that led her to help care and provide for him (Clara 1). She grew up shy, but with many strong beliefs, so David encouraged her to take on the task of becoming a schoolteacher to get more comfortable with presenting herself in front of others (Spinner 10). Most of the teachers were men who were paid more than the women, which was something Ms. Barton made a stand to change before continuing to work in the schoolhouse …show more content…
She kept up the work of bringing supplies to wounded soldiers, and even began to go back to her schoolhouse roots by teaching, listening, and even praying with the men (Clara Barton 1). When she saw the big and small differences her heartfelt work was making, she knew her purpose in this time was to provide for others, not only herself (Clara Barton 1). Leaders of surrounding medical services noticed Barton’s serious work and gave her permission to take her care to the front lines of the war to care for an even larger amount of wounded soldiers (Curtis 2). More opportunities opened up for Clara Barton to serve, such as the times where she would make visits to care for Confederate prisoners and those hurt in prisoner-of-war camps (Curtis 2). Her work was becoming so well known among the battlefields that she was given the nickname “the angel of the battlefield” (Clara