Life During the Civil War                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Life During the Civil War

Soldiers Johnny Reb Billy Yank Pay: approximately $13.00/month 750,000 (18-45) served 1 out of 3 died Billy Yank 2.1 million (18-45) served 1 in 10 died Pay: approximately $13.00/month

Camp Life Some pleasant moments: Generally dull and boring: Songs, stories, letter writing/reading, baseball, read bibles/newspapers, poker Generally dull and boring: Drills, marches, rain, bad food, cleaning weapons, etc

The Reality of War Huge losses Trench Warfare Technology and Tactics don’t match Horrible Medical Facilities Many desertions: 1 in 11 Union 1 in 8 Confederate

(Union hand stretchers at Maryre's Height's, May 1864) The Union Army Ambulance Corps (Union hand stretchers at Maryre's Height's, May 1864)

Harper's weekly-1862 Article The Influence of woman

Women Spies Soldiers Nurses Elizabeth Van Lew and Harriet Tubman (Union) Bell Boyd, Loretta Janeta Valazquez, Rose O’Neil Greenhow (Confederate) Soldiers Loretta Janeta Valazquez Nurses Clara Barton (Red Cross), Dorthea Dix (military nurses), Sally Tompkins (S)

Roles Women worked to manufacture arms, ammunition, uniforms, and other supplies for the soldiers. Prior to its destruction, women in the Fayetteville arsenal made some 900,000 rounds of small arms munitions in 1864. People were grateful for the contributions of women in the war, and newspapers reported their work.

Women in the War The women of the war formed groups like the Sick Soldier's Relief Society and the Soldier's Aid Society. In the South and in the North too, women made bandages for the wounded and knit socks to keep the soldiers' feet warm and dry. A few, Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, among them, volunteered to nurse the wounded.

Ladies of the state of Michigan relief association help out with Union wounded in Virginia.                                                                                                    

Union Sanitary Commission nurse with her patients in a field hospital near Fredericksburg, Virginia.                                                                                                

Women As soldiers Both the Union and Confederate armies forbade the enlistment of women. Women soldiers of the Civil War therefore assumed masculine names, disguised themselves as men, and hid the fact they were female . Estimates place as many as 250 women in the ranks of the Confederate army . Sarah Edmonds Seelye served two years in the Second Michigan Infantry as Franklin Thompson. In 1886, she received a military pension.

Opposition to the War Peace Democrats/Copperheads Draft Evaders Political and economic reasons Feared social change, against Lincoln, wanted to negotiate with the Confederacy Draft Evaders Refused to respond to the draft call New York Draft Rioters A “rich man’s war/poor man’s fight” (hoppers) Quakers Religious reasons—A matter of conscience

                                             

U.S. Draft

THE CIVIL WAR DRAFT RIOTS: The finest hour of the Metropolitan Police was their heroic defense of the city during the draft riots of 1863. Angry mobs, protesting the conscription plans of Lincoln's embattled administration, murdered African-Americans, burned precinct houses and other buildings, and beat Police Superintendent John Kennedy senseless

The Economy The war was financed by: Borrowing money—War bonds (high interest) N—2 billion, S—700 million Increasing taxes including an income tax Printing Paper Money “Greenbacks”

The Economy—North Inflation Northern economy booms Prices rose faster than wages—80% rise Northern economy booms RR traffic increase Boom in coal, iron, and clothing production Farms prospered—need for food for soldiers More efficient methods of production

The Economy—South South lay in ruins Northern blockade Inflation 1000s homeless, cities burned RR and farmland devastated Northern blockade Severe shortages Food riots Inflation Prices rose 9000%