The Union had the United States Sanitary Commission and the indefatigable Dorothea Dix, who was appointed superintendent of female nurses of the Union army by the secretary of war. But then men, especially poorer men who were working in these fields, went to go fight the war. If the Union army came close to their plantation, their chances of escape were much greater. She had very strict rules for her employees, including that they must be "past 30 years of age, healthy, plain almost to repulsion in dress, and devoid of personal attractions." The life of a woman during the Civil War was difficult, painful, and full of change, and as a result, history is full of incredible, inspiring, and heartbreaking stories. But more and more men went to fight over the years, and soon, women were needed for other jobs, like working in offices or for the government. Overall, they served with distinction. She also worked for the National Freedman's Relief Association, personally encouraging people to donate food and clothes to black refugees fleeing the South. That's especially true for a war where a country has been ripped in half, and a woman might live on one side but support the other. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal "Neighbors turned on one another, brothers killed brothers, and thousands of teachers and artists and priests were murdered for their political sympathies." Prostitutes were a huge part of the Civil War (as seen in Gone with the Wind), but they probably got left out of your high school history book for some reason. Like his father, James I, he believed in the “divine right of kings.” This meant that kings were chosen by God, so their authority could not be challenged by anyone on Earth. Those who still supported Charles's place on the throne, such as the army leader and moderate Fairfax, tried again to negotiate with him. Overview: Civil War and Revolution 1603 - 1714. The venereal disease situation was so bad that military leaders thought it "threatened military readiness." To put that in perspective, that's more than the 110,100 Union troops who died in battle during the war. The overwhelming youth of the armies on both sides and the way young men flocked to battle had a generational impact on America. Where did the Battle of Marston Moor take... Who were the Royalists in the English Civil... What was the last battle of the English Civil... What were the effects of the English Civil War? Of course, if lots of soldiers were married, and lots of soldiers died, that meant lots of women found themselves suddenly widowed. The life of a soldier during the civil war wasn't easy. She spent her family fortune on her espionage activities and died impoverished. The South was a horrible place to be for women, or anyone, during the Civil War. Like the private diaries of the Tennesseans mentioned above, personal letters reveal much about life during the Civil War. Imagine sitting in class one day when another teacher runs in and says that nobody should follow the principal's orders any more because they're fighting back against the people in charge. ", No matter how bad it is, it's always worse for women. English Civil Wars Quick Facts The Library of Congress says that time was "marked by a number of conflicts and tragedies" for her. English Civil War Soldiers Facts & Worksheets English Civil War Soldiers facts and information activity worksheet pack and fact file. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library. Charles I came to the British throne in 1625. In fact, one captain would withhold money from his soldier's paychecks if they didn't settle up with their washer woman, Nancy Summers. Many women did jobs in exchange for enough food to eat. A life of poverty. She was a famous society hostess, and when important people would come to her parties, she'd get them chatting, then send any relevant information to General P.G.T. Life during the Civil War Most people during the Civil War were not involved with it and chose not to fight for either side. Living in these areas would have a big variety of means and characteristics. The men of the Union army "terrorized" white women they came across, which included sexual assault. What Life Was Really Like For Women During The Civil War, According to Case Western Reserve University. Harriet Tubman was totally badass, recruiting black men to return to the South by posing as slaves to gather information, organizing missions for Union troops to free actual slaves, and even leading an armed expedition herself, which disrupted enemy supply lines and liberated 700 slaves. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Varina was consulted on military matters, and when her husband became very ill, she controlled access to him, acting almost as a chief of staff. (She was denied a pension for her spy work, because people suck.) There were black widows, too, but no one thought to count them. Third English Civil War (1649-51) The third English Civil War was actually more of a fight between Scottish and English armies, and much of it was fought in Scotland. Phoebe Pember ran the South's largest medical facility, Chimborazo Hospital, while Sally Tompkins paid for a 22-bed hospital with her own money. In more rural areas of the North, women took over managing their farms when the men left. Armies have needs, and they can't effectively fight if they don't have those needs met. History reports they answered the call by the thousands. Friendship and kinship were rent asunder by the great onslaught of the Civil War. They took to fighting, spying, nursing, and following soldiers as they wandered around a divided America, killing each other. And then there was Belle Boyd (pictured). The king’s supporters 'Cavaliers' , the gentry of the northern and western areas, were Royalists and supported the king. The war also caused the price of slaves to skyrocket, so there was a greater chance they would see their children sold and families broken up. By the end of the war, women made up one-third of manufacturing workers, and the US government was the largest employer of women. Sure, there were exceptions, but in general, Northern women left at home didn't have to worry about violence on their doorstep. About 400 years ago, They didn't show up on the official lists of people there, but they did get paid for their work. … How did the Battle of Marston Moor start? During the conflict, History reports she recruited black soldiers to the Union army. Once you have finished reading all of the letters, use the information to respond to the questions provided on your "Life of a Civil War Soldier" handout. Please be as descriptive as possible well there was really no middle class at the time as they did not really develop until industrialization in the Georgian/Victorian eras. But according to the Library of Congress, she did even more than that, spying and even working as a cook for the army. So yeah, even though she was on the wrong side, you've got to admire her moxie. The English Civil War was also called the Great Rebellion. The Ohio State University reports she was never far from her husband's side during the war, in case he wanted to discuss how it was going, which he often did. She wasn't the only one. Men were conscripted in the battle, leaving the house to women who shouldered all responsibilities. The Civil War. Rose Greenhow lived in Washington D.C., but she secretly supported the South. Plus, she was the only woman officially commissioned in the Confederate army. Not sure what that says about Clara Barton (pictured) and Louisa May Alcott, who both signed up. Any time a war is fought on a country's soil, the home front becomes a battlefield, and all the regular complications are magnified. The world doesn't stop just because of a war. According to Encyclopedia Virginia, once the conflict started, enslaved men would be taken from their homes to build military fortifications, work for Confederate officers, or sent to factories. Life was tough. What was life like in the English Civil War? As for the fighting, well, the battles on their doorsteps were bad enough. In one bizarre instance, a female prison guard disguised as a man found herself in charge of a woman who was in jail for impersonating a male soldier. The Civil War wasn't a picnic for men, but women didn't exactly get an easy time of it, either. When Parliament refused to grant many of Charles’s demands for money, the king was furious. It was the first time in American history that women were allowed to be a significant part of a war effort. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 year old (GCSE). The English Civil War brought death and destruction to many parts of England. Not only did soldiers face the possibility of getting killed in battle, their daily lives were full of hardships. But men were more likely to escape, which meant the women left behind "suffered the brunt of their mistresses' wrath." She replied, "I wanted to do my part, same as you." Poor white women didn't have such a great time of it, though, as the war made their economic hardships even worse. Life in the South during the Civil War was even more difficult than in the North. There wasn't much of a to-do when they were. The Spanish Civil War was anything but civil. The Northern home front had one major benefit over the South during the Civil War: Most of the battles were fought far away. It began in England in 1642 and lasted for 9 years. The opposing parties were the supporters of the then monarchy of Charles I and the Parliament. She was so involved that Jefferson Davis "was heavily criticized for allowing Varina to engage in the political conversations, and in some instances, even help make important decisions.". The Civil War wasn't a picnic for men, but women didn't exactly get an easy time of it, either. But white women managed to make it work, mostly. But the war gave women responsibility and independence they never had before. Life Before the Civil War. Click the button below to download this worksheet for use in the classroom or at home. Sadly, many of them were not able to come back. And then, of course, she constantly had to worry about her relatives and loved ones dying in battle. Nightingale helped "lay the foundation for modern nursing concepts and trained nursing care," and she also made the profession acceptable for women, especially in the middle and upper classes. They also had to get their husband's body home, which was a complicated process. During the war, she helped Union soldiers escape prison. But a lot weren't interested, and the "flirty widow" (exemplified by Scarlett O'Hara after she loses her first husband in Gone with the Wind) emerged and scandalized society. However, just because a woman was in a position of influence, that doesn't mean everything was sunshine and roses. Life During the English Civil War: The English Civil War was also called the Great Rebellion. She spent a whole night searching the woods for the right kind of roots and herbs, and once she found them, she boiled up a bitter drink that saved the lives of many soldiers with dysentery. In the government, many of the Royalist were either killed or exiled. 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