What Role Did Women Play In The Civil War Essay

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The Role of Women In the Civil War Typically, when one thinks of the Civil War, one thinks of the role played by men during that time period. History books reflect mainly on the men that fought and died in the war. While many may believe men were the only ones that contributed in the Civil War, that isn't actually the case. Women also had a large impact on the outcome of this war. During the war, women took on new roles to support their families. Women were generally viewed as the primary caretakers of the home and of the children. Previously, throughout history, they didn’t usually take part in the same roles that men had. However, during the Civil War, women not only took on their usual roles of being in control of the home life, but they actually joined in on the war effort itself. Many enslaved women also escaped and freed themselves during this time period. The Civil War was a significant turning point in …show more content…
Oftentimes, women wanted to fight for the same reasons that men did. Like men, some women served out of dedication to a cause or out of the need to earn money and support their families. According to the article Lives of Women, women felt like there was a “…sense of urgency, movement, and progress so evident in the geographical, industrial, technological and political changes affecting the country” (Hartman). This led them to uproot their lives and put themselves in the line of fire. Some women decided to join the war because they had a sense of adventure or desire to leave an unsatisfying home life as well. The Civil War occurred just as women were beginning to push for their own rights as human beings. While this movement was not fully recognized until the early 20th century due to the big push for the abolitionist movement, it was still an idea that started forming around this time. Women enjoyed the freedom to manage their own finances, travel, and escape the dullness of their day to day