Southern Women In The Civil War Essay - 1628 Words

Women during the Civil War were forced into life-style changes which they had never dreamed they would have to endure. No one was spared from the devastation of the war, and many lives were changed forever. Women in the south were forced to take on the responsibilities of their husbands, carrying on the daily responsibilities of the farm or plantation. They maintained their homes and families while husbands and sons fought and died for their beliefs. Many women took the advantage of their opinions being heard, and for the first time supported their cause in anyway they could. Whether a woman was the mistress of a plantation or the wife of a yeoman farmer, her life was defined by work. Only a small number of women, those related or†¦show more content†¦Many women were beginning to notice changes in themselves and the other women around them. Sallie Putnam wrote, Those who had formerly devoted themselves to gaiety and fashionable amusements, found their only real pleasure in obedience to the demands made upon their time and talents, in providing proper habiliments for the soldierÂ… the devotee of ease, luxury and idle enjoyment, found herself transformed into the busy seamstress (Confederate, 26). Before the war women who lived in or near cities could, if status and funding permitted, lead slightly easier lives than rural women. General stores lined the streets, selling all types of merchandise, from sewing machines to washboards. Newspapers advertised both ready-made clothing and the services of expert seamstresses and milliners. Produce grown in backyard gardens was available for purchase, and local farmers carted their surplus into town. Churches, schools, and theaters offered social and cultural outlets. The sociable elite enjoyed dinner and card parties (Grander, 5). Once the war began many women were forced to give up the simple luxuries they were once accustomed to. The daily things that women used became scarce, and many women were forced to sell, or barter their personal property. Before the war many women of high society often wore elaborate dresses made of silk and lace, but as basic goods became moreShow MoreRelatedSouthern Women And The Civil War1678 Words   |  7 PagesSouthern Women and the Civil War: The Burdens of Patriotism and Womanhood in the Confederacy The Civil War altered the lives of women, in both the North and South, just as it altered the nation as a whole. Although it is irrefutable that both the North and the South felt the wrath of the war, the South encountered a unique set of troubles that caused the weight of the war to fall predominantly on Southern women. Attempting to understand the experiences of all Southern women during the Civil WarRead MoreSouthern Women Before, During After the Civil War Essay2813 Words   |  12 PagesThe women of southern plantations are something that not many write about. There is a critical lack of information and books about them, which makes writing about her a difficult task. Many southern women are mentioned in many books only as part of the males. â€Å"It was not until the early 1970’s, with the advent of the women’s movement, that a book written by a Southern woman about Southern women was recognized as being of scholarly significance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The wealthy white women of the south spent mostRead MoreThe Effects Of Slavery On Women During The Civil War877 Words   |  4 Pagesintellectual movement that believes the civil war was fought over honor and ideals instead of slavery, is because Southern Women saw the Civil War as a war on one of the fundamentals that made up their way life. My research paper is about understanding the effects that slavery had on women during and prior to the civil war, and how the absence of slavery effected them. This research will be used in order to paint a picture of how slavery effect all southern women, whether they were rich plantation ownersRead MoreThe Barry/Bradford Family1442 Words   |  6 Pagesin the Civil War. The Civil War caused many men to turn against one another, and the war affected family life as well. â€Å"Approximately 620,000 soldiers died from combat, accident, starvation, and disease during the Civil War.† Most of the battles took place in the South, though som e did take place in the North and the West. Southern politics and government changed greatly during this time with the new focus on winning the war. Women grabbed onto new opportunities opened up to them by the war. The membersRead MoreThe Responsibilities Of Directing The Slave Labor1637 Words   |  7 PagesThere are some Civil War scholars who maintain the theory that the responsibilities of directing the slave labor was the catalyst for the downward spiral of Southern women’s morale. While the opinions about the institution of slavery varied during the Civil War, depending on circumstances such as location and amount of slaves, there were two general opinions from Southern women. Either Southern women felt that slavery was a blessing or a burden. Women such as Catherine Edmondston saw their slaveholdingRead MoreWomen During The Civil War1388 Words   |  6 PagesThe Civil War altered the lives of women, in both the North and South, just as it altered the nation as a whole. Although it is irrefutable that both the North and the South felt the wrath of the war, the South encountered a unique set of troubles that caused the weight of the war to fall predominantly on Southern women. Attempting to understand the experiences of all Southern women during the Civil War does not come without its challenges. It is impossible to connect the stories and experiencesRead MoreGone with the Wind Review1011 Words   |  5 PagesGeorgia the spring of 1861, and follows the life of a wealthy southern belle, Scarlett O’Hara. While the film focuses on the trial and tribulations of Scarlett’s love life, it also depicts life during the civil war, and after the civil war. Although the films depiction of southern life is somewhat reasonable, there are some historical inaccuracies. Because the movie is based in Scarlett O’Hara’s romances, the film romancitizes southern life and omits or twists details about the lives of the less fortunate Read MoreFrederick Douglass : An Unfortunate Time1697 Words   |  7 Pages race, and class. Even though Douglass wanted to see the slaves become free, he knew that freedom did not equal equality. His main goal for fighting the civil war was to end slavery and bring integration into the United States. I personally believe his position on slavery and many other factors contributed to the cause of the American Civil War. Douglass’s position on slavery influenced other individuals to take a stand and fight for their freedom. This is important considering it caused not onlyRead MoreRace And Gender Roles : The Women On The Porch As Southern Gothic Literature893 Words   |  4 Pagesin the Southern culture and dynamic. After the Civil War, dramatic changes began to take place in the South. Political leaders began to enact Civil Rights amendments, industrialization became more popular, and gender roles were beginning to be indistinct. In Southern literature, the portrayal of female characters evolved along side with the Southern culture. Female characters became more independent, strong-willed, and hardworking. Even African Americans became the main characters in Southern literatureRead MoreThe Declaration Of Sentiments And The Declaration Of Independence1020 Words   |  5 Pag esand they cover the same concepts but it is directed toward women wanting their rights. For instance, the Declaration of Independence states, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal (Declaration of Independence). This statement from the Declaration of Independence shows that they wanted freedom, and they thought that all men were created equal. The Declaration of Independence never says anything about women being equal, and that is exactly what the Declaration of