Life During Wartime Chapter 11 Section 3 Page 351

African American Soldiers Union nor Confederacy accepted African Americans at the beginning of the war. 1862, Union began allowing blacks to serve. 10% of Union army was black Served in segregated units Could not rise above the rank of captain. Alexander Augusta, a surgeon, did become a lieutenant.

African American Soldiers Black troops were paid less than whites. Some black regiments served w/o pay rather then take the lesser amount offered. Congress finally equalized the pay for all troops in 1864. Mortality rates for African Americans was higher b/c they served in high disease areas. When African American troops were captured by the Confederates they were executed rather than treated as prisoners. A particularly gruesome massacre occurred at Fort Pillow Tennessee were Confederate troops murdered 200+ men as they begged for their lives.

Slave Resistance in the Confederacy As Union forces pushed deeper into Confederate territory, thousands of slaves sought freedom behind the lines of the Union army. Slaves who remained on plantations broke tools and sabotaged the farms. Southerners were fearful of a slave uprising so they spread rumors about the poor treatment of freed slaves. By 1864 many Confederates realized that slavery was doomed.

Southern Shortages Food Shortage Meat became a luxury Drain of man power to the war Union occupation of food growing areas Loss of slaves to work the fields Meat became a luxury Food prices skyrocketed 1863, women and children were rioting over bread & rice Union blockade of southern ports created shortages of items including salt, sugar, coffee, medicine, ect.

Northern Economic Growth War had a more positive affect on the Northern economy. Most industries were booming Wages did not keep up w/ prices so many people’s standard of living declined. When white male workers went on strike, employers hired women, free blacks, immigrants, & boys to replace the men at lower wages. Northern women got gov. jobs for the first time. Many businesses became corrupt by cheating the gov. on their contracts. Nation’s first income tax was used during the war.

Lives on the Line Life on the front lines was difficult. Men were not given baths on a regular bases. Bathrooms and garbage disposal was almost unheard of. Body lice, dysentery, & diarrhea were common. Army rations were not appealing. Union troops lived on beans, bacon, & hard biscuits. Southerners food was even less appealing.

Civil War Medicine Established a Sanitary Commission to improve the conditions for troops. It sent agents to teach troops how to sanitize water & set up hospitals. Dorthea Dix became the first female superintendent of women nurses. She insisted nurses be 30+ & plain looking. Clara Barton served on the front lines of battle.

Civil War Medicine As a result of the Sanitary Commission, the death rate among Union troops dropped. The South did not have a Sanitary Commission but thousands of women volunteered as nurses.

Prisons Improvements didn’t reach prisons where life was worse than in camps. The worst Confederate prison was a Andersonville, GA. Prisoners had no shelter & they drank from the same steam that acted as the sewer. 1/3 of the prisoners at Andersonville died.

Prisons The South’s lack of food & supplies also contributed to the bad conditions as prisons. Prison camps in the North were only slightly better. Did provide shelter and food 15% of the prisoners in the South died 12% of the prisoners in the North died

Answer the following questions What was the experience of African American soldiers in the Union army? How did slaves aid the fight for freedom in the South? How did the war affect the economy in the South? How did the war affect the economy in the North? How were women affected by the war? What new measure did the U.S. government use to pay for the war? What kinds of conditions did soldiers live in during the war? How were prisoners of war treated? How did the U.S. Sanitary Commission and Clara Barton help soldiers?