Women's role in the civil war primary sources

Most women were engaged in supplying the troops with food, clothing, medical supplies, and even money through fundraising. Oct 14, 2016 this collection teaches students about the changing role of women during world war ii. Hospital sketches by louisa may alcott a southern womans story by phoebe yates pember. A collection of primary sources about the suffrage movement and womens rights. Thousands of women in the north and south joined volunteer brigades and signed up to work as nurses. The national archives holds rich collections of records on nineteenthcentury southern african american women.

Did you know that many women were confederate spies during the civil war. Woman suffrage and the 19th amendment naras collection of primary sources, activities. The following guide provides an annotated resource for these records, which include diaries, correspondence, and account books kept by women and womens organizations prior to, during, and after the war. This quiz and worksheet address how women aided in the war effort in both the north. Many became providers for their families, managing farms and businesses while male relatives served in the military. Many women supported the war effort as nurses and aides, while others took a more upfront approach and secretly enlisted in the army or served as spies and smugglers. This online exhibit from the national women s history museum traces the experiences of african american women from the transatlantic slave trade to the twentyfirst century. A guide to primary and secondary sources on the topic of women and. Thousands of women in the north and south joined volunteer brigades and signed up to work as. Women during the civil war historical society of pennsylvania.

After the end of the civil war apart from the brief period of reconstruction in the south things largely returned to normal. Resources womens role in the civil war smithsonian. On the home front, women for both sides had to manage the household while their husbands and sons were off fighting battles. These sources provide direct or firsthand evidence about an event. Virginia clayclopton, 18251915 she includes the history of her family and tells of growing up, marrying, and moving to washington. Four women undercover in the civil war is interviewed on kera women spies in the civil war. Jul 06, 2011 women played many roles in the civil war.

The womens relief corps, an auxiliary to the grand army of the republic, proposed federal government pensions for women who served as army nurses in the civil war. Civilians in the american revolution, women, margaret. Jan 14, 2019 the valley of the shadow is a digital archive of primary sources that document the lives of people in augusta county, virginia, and franklin county, pennsylvania, during the era of the american civil war. Before emancipation, the civil war worsened the condition of many enslaved women in the south, though african american women from various regions helped the union or abolitionist cause. To learn more about primary sources, including how to cite sources, visit the tutorial, research using primary sources. Before the civil war, work for most women was in the home. General eisenhower felt that the war could not be won without the aid of the women in uniform. Duke university has put together this study guide relating to womens role during the war. Many became providers for their families, managing farms and.

Students will explore these stories through a video clip and close examination of two dresses and a womans uniform. Sometimes quietly, and sometimes with a roar, womens roles have been redefined. The site brings together primary sources by eyewitnesses from the holdings of the university of south carolina. Hsps collections provide an exceptional source of womens writings during the civil war years. Guide to print and manuscript materials at the rubenstein library related to women and their roles in the civil war. Nursing, which had been a male profession, is the bestknown example. The differing attitudes expressed about the assassination of president abraham lincoln, just as the civil war was drawing to a close in april 1865, are the most telling. Women s role in the civil war description lesson plan on the ways in which women served in the civil war, often as nurses, spies, or vivandieres. Many activists supported the abolition of slavery, so they rallied to ensure that the war would end this inhumane practice. Other clues may be buried in the title, authorship, date of publication, etc.

That the place for the women was in their own homes. During the civil war, reformers focused on the war effort rather than organizing womens rights meetings. Women working, 18701930 a digital collection of primary sources for teaching, learning and research womens bureau u. Harriet tubman, the famous underground railroad conductor, led an armed expedition in south carolina, for example. Jan 24, 2019 these materials are often located in the special collections of a library, rather than in the general collection. Use this page to find primary sources and documentbased teaching activities related to womens rights and changing roles in american history.

These materials are often located in the special collections of a library, rather than in the general collection. Women in the english civil war spartacus educational. Happersett western suffrage national american woman suffrage association national association of colored women opposition to suffrage progressive era reformers working women in the movement national women s party and militant methods imagery and propaganda 19th amendment. An advertisement for the 1876 book the woman in battle by loreta juaneta velasquez. Civil war 18611865 primary sources related to womens involvement in the u. Correspondence with members of congress, circa 1890 clara barton papers, special collections, university of maryland libraries. This lesson includes discussion questions and worksheets. He stated, the contribution of the women of america, whether on the farm or in the factory or in uniform, to dday was a sine qua non of the invasion effort. A compilation of quality websites containing primary sources about the civil war.

From this primary source collection, compile a list of possible civilian roles in the american revolution, such as sutler, privateer, camp follower, civilian spy or messenger, pacifist activist. What did your students notice as they looked at the primary sources highlighted in this post. The contrasting political viewpoints in these two womens diaries illustrate the divisive nature of the war in the state of maryland and in the nation. Women were involved in the civil war in many ways, ranging from nursing to spying. Apr 09, 2020 an online selecton of titles from the cornell university library s extensive collection of materials on witchcraft. Join historian deanne blanton as she discusses the crucial role. A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. Civil war news stories, a british library learning activity using original newspaper sources from the english civil wars. It uses exercises such as a discussion, video, analyzing primary sources, and class presentations to teach about these important people. Civil war women spies another area that has captured the imagination and interest of history buffs is women who served as spies. Two maryland women, mary brooke briggs brooke 17981875 and margaret madge smith preston 18151895, recorded the minute details of their daily lives. However, the taste of independence that women had during the civil war would revitalize the suffragette womens right to vote movement in the. This collection uses primary sources to explore women in the civil war. Also provides aletta jacobs papers and rosa manus papers.

Civilians in the american revolution, women, margaret morris. Included are collections of digitized letters, diaries, photographs, maps, official records, battlefield dispatches, and resources about slavery and abolition. Dec 07, 2017 the national archives holds rich collections of records on nineteenthcentury southern african american women. The witchcraft collection documents the earliest and the latest manifestations of the belief in witchcraft as well as its geographical boundaries, and elaborates this history with works on canon law, the inquisition, torture, demonology, trial testimony, and narratives. These diverse collections range from ancestral pueblo pottery to interviews with women engineers from the 1970s. Use secondary literature for leads on primary sources. Civil war and revolution, a themed collection of articles by leading historians. Use the tab labeled primary sources online, which includes digitized diaries and letters, as well as outside links to other institutions collections. During the civil war, however, american women turned their attention to the world outside the home. An excerpt from hospital sketches by nurse louisa may. It provides access to some primary sources otherwise only located in a few rare book rooms, and includes the full text of many books and periodicals in.

Combine these these terms with the event or person you are researching. Many women supported the war effort as nurses and aides, while others took a more upfront approach and secretly. Primary sources civil war nurses national museum of civil. This women s role in the war effort lesson plan is suitable for 5th 8th grade. This online exhibit from the national womens history museum traces the experiences of african american women from the transatlantic slave trade to the twentyfirst century. Women and the english civil wars the national archives. The roles of women in the civil war women played many roles in the civil war. In hospitals across the country thousands of women stepped in to serve as nurses. Women in world war ii smithsonians history explorer. This guide is a companion resource to the exhibition, women on the border. Primary sources civil war nurses national museum of. An advertisement for the 1876 book the woman in battle by loreta juaneta velasquez, who fought for the confederacy as harry t. They played important roles both at home and on the battlefield.

The lesson culminates in a studentmade timeline, which uses primary sources to explain the movements transformation over time. This link leads to secondary and primary sources about these wily and resourceful women who passed military secrets. The women who went to the field american battlefield trust. Primary sources with questions and answers on women in the english civil war. Included on the site are diaries, sheet music, maps, letters, and photographs. This section includes digitized material from duke libraries and other sources, primary source databases, and microfilm collections.

Check out these great primary sources that tell the story of the nurses who saved lives during americas bloodiest war. This guide is a starting point for doing research on the topic. There were many women playing important roles in the civil war, including nurses, spies, soldiers, abolitionists, civil rights advocates and promoters of womens suffrage. Yet women have actively participated as citizensorganizing, marching, petitioningsince the founding of our country. Includes background information, guided analysis questions, and fullcolor primary. Women during wwi wwi primary resource guide oxford. The civil war marked a turning point for women and their role in society. Women were expected to cook and clean to make the home comfortable for the family and presentable for guests. Using primary sources from the library of congress american memory collections, students learn how tactics in the early womens rights movement changed with the times, ultimately leading to womens suffrage. Womens role in the civil war before the first world war, women had been a part of many war efforts in various roles, but, in order to serve alongside men, they had to cloak themselves in disguise. Two maryland women, mary brooke briggs brooke 17981875 and margaret madge smith preston 18151895, recorded the minute details of their daily lives and their perceptions of the news. Like men, women had varying perspectives on the war and the politics of the time period. The women s relief corps, an auxiliary to the grand army of the republic, proposed federal government pensions for women who served as army nurses in the civil war.

Maryland perspectives of the american civil war, which was on display in the maryland room gallery of hornbake library from august 31, 2011 to july, 2012 and is now. The contrasting political viewpoints in these two women s diaries illustrate the divisive nature of the war in the state of maryland and in the nation. Some womens rights activists, like clara barton, served as nurses. In women in the war, students in grades 46 examine the activities of women soldiers, spies, nurses, and others. Digital public library of america primary source sets are designed to help students.

With the outbreak of the civil war, however, many women volunteered to help in the war effort. Students will use what they learned from lessons one and two to guide them in their understanding of how womens roles changed and remained the same during the civil war and world war i. The american civil war brought women new responsibilities on the battlefield and at home. Students should think about how these activities reinforced traditional notions of gender divisions while they also allowed women to experience new activities. Item 3 of 15 in the primary source set women in the civil war. Women guide to online primary sources libguides at. Apr 17, 2015 using primary sources from the library of congress american memory collections, students learn how tactics in the early womens rights movement changed with the times, ultimately leading to womens suffrage. Two of the most important collections for the study of formerly enslaved african american women are the civil war soldiers pension files and the freedmens bureau records. Womens role in the war effort lesson plan for 5th 8th. Use this guide to find primary and secondary sources for the study of the u. Bcw project, a useful content website on the english civil wars. Womens role in the civil war description lesson plan on the ways in which women served in the civil war, often as nurses, spies, or vivandieres.

Women working, 18701930 a digital collection of primary sources for teaching, learning and research women s bureau u. Clay, of alabama covering social and political life in washington and the south, 185366. They did not sit idly by waiting for the men in their lives to come home from the battlefield. A guide to primary and secondary sources on the topic of women and the american civil war, with a focus on women in maryland. Government department of labor womens history in wisconsin.

The valley project is a part of the virginia center for digital history at the university of virginia. Site includes links to several wpa memoirs of south carolina women during the war, detailed information about fashion and fabrics of the times, and a bibliography of suggested readings. However, this began to change during world war i, the first war where the. This womens role in the war effort lesson plan is suitable for 5th 8th grade. Get your students up and moving using these women in the civil war station rotations. Jan 14, 2019 numerous resources on the topic of women and the civil war are available at the rubenstein library. On this page, you will find some primary sources available to you about women and the civil war. Government department of labor women s history in wisconsin. This lesson plan looks at the history of womens roles during the american civil war and world war i.

Two of the most important collections for the study of formerly enslaved african american women are the civil war soldiers pension files and the freedmen s bureau records. Primary souces civil war primary sources libguides at. Highlights the accomplishments of the clinton administration in brokering the 1995 dayton peace accords, which resolved the 19921995 bosnian war, and the role the director of central intelligence interagency balkan task force btf played in informing policymakers. The upheaval of the american revolution and the civil war profoundly altered womens lives, opening new paths and allowing them to take on roles previously held largely by men. This database provides access to digital collections of primary sources photos, letters, diaries, artifacts, etc. The poem describes the nurses work on the civil war battlefield. History civil war the lives of women changed dramatically during the american civil war. Womens role in the civil war, introduces students in grades 36 to some of the roles women played in the civil war.

The resource focuses particularly on the important role women played for both the union and confederacy. Previous item next item our women and the war, an engraving by winslow homer published in harpers weekly. The gerritsen collection, a proquest database available via solo, comprises a selection of documents charting womens history. Dec 18, 2019 a primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. Their service remembered in library of congress primary sources. The collections are scanned and viewable, but with little transcription or description. Two brave women by josephine crump, an excerpt from the book confederate women of arkansas in the civil war, 1907. The struggle for womens suffrage the library of congresss selection of pictures includes portraits of individuals. Civil war 18611865 primary sources related to women s involvement in the u. Ambrose, dday, 489 although women were not on the battle field they were the reason we.