The majority of people during the era of Stuart Britain were poor, with a large portion living in terrible poverty. Armies have needs, and they can't effectively fight if they don't have those needs met. Rather than stay at home and deal with the difficulties there alone, worrying about if their spouse was dead or alive, these ladies decided to do their patriotic duty and join them. Life during the Civil War Most people during the Civil War were not involved with it and chose not to fight for either side. Union nurses were paid 40 cents a day, and they had to work at least three months. The war tore families apart. Many women did jobs in exchange for enough food to eat. It was even harder, of course, if you were a black woman. The overwhelming youth of the armies on both sides and the way young men flocked to battle had a generational impact on America. 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. They took to fighting, spying, nursing, and following soldiers as they wandered around a divided America, killing each other. 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. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. The Union alone had 183,000 recorded cases of STDs, and you have to assume there were lots of men who didn't seek medical attention or died before they could. When President Lincoln invited her to the White House, she pulled a Rosa Parks 90 years early and defiantly rode in whites-only streetcars. There were fewer people, fewer supplies, fewer railroads, and a lot of battles close at hand. There were black widows, too, but no one thought to count them. 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. Free. Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. BBC Hunting for History video exploring these sources and life during the English Civil Wars. There wasn't much of a to-do when they were. English Civil Wars Quick Facts According to Essential Civil War Curriculum, the conflict "created an unprecedented number of young white widows." She was also a very effective nurse, since she knew lots of folk remedies from her childhood. The split between Charles and Parliament was such that neither side was willing to back down over the principles that they held and war was inevitable … Life was tough. Women usually had to wait for very specific circumstances before they could make a break for it. Friendship and kinship were rent asunder by the great onslaught of the Civil War. About 400 years ago, Facts about Civil English War 1: the nicknames. On the other hand, the Parliamentarians were called as the Roundheads because most of them were in the army and had very short hair. In other words, a woman during the American Civil War had it pretty rough. 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. Union general William T. Sherman engaged in "total war" on his march to the sea. They would shame pacifist men into joining the army, and single women swore they would only marry men who served. These were sent anonymously in a way that "defied detection," and some even had patriotic symbols on the envelopes. But some women went even further with their involvement in the war. The rate of venereal disease in soldiers who passed through declined sharply, and a post-war report called the scheme a success that didn't "encourage vice" but just prevented the "worst consequences. 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. 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? 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. Using his wartime connections, he placed his son in the elite Westminster School.Between 1652 and 1667, John Locke was a student and then lecturer at Christ Church, Oxford, where he focused on the standard curriculum of logic, metaphysics and … Like any war, the English Civil War affected families by the deaths of thousands of young men who were husbands, fathers, and sons. Only four states had formal relief agencies, and there was no national organization for the Confederacy. 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. If the Union army came close to their plantation, their chances of escape were much greater. Being married to a politician during the Civil War meant having unbelievable amounts of indirect power. Saving people in only one way wasn't enough, apparently. But white women managed to make it work, mostly. These women were called "camp followers," and the Cape May County Herald says some of these women followed their husbands to war. The king’s supporters 'Cavaliers' , the gentry of the northern and western areas, were Royalists and supported the king. After a period of phony war late in 1642, the basic shape of the English Civil War was of Royalist advance in 1643 and then steady Parliamentarian attrition and expansion. And during the Civil War, domestic duties like cooking and laundry were still a necessity, so women came along to do them. The Civil War wasn't a picnic for men, but women didn't exactly get an easy time of it, either. Men were conscripted in the battle, leaving the house to women who shouldered all responsibilities. Women did plenty of spying during the Civil War. 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 English Civil War brought death and destruction to many parts of England. The Spanish Civil War was anything but civil. Like the private diaries of the Tennesseans mentioned above, personal letters reveal much about life during the Civil War. And now, there was no way to support them. Then Sherman came. Not sure what that says about Clara Barton (pictured) and Louisa May Alcott, who both signed up. While one female soldier's cover was blown shortly after she was promoted to sergeant because she gave birth, women were most often found out when they needed medical attention. Sadly, many of them were not able to come back. To be fair, no one really knows how many white war widows there were, but based on how many soldiers died and how many were married, the estimate is about 200,000 in four years. Some of the camp followers were refugees, especially escaped slaves. Overall, they served with distinction. A Civil War-era encampment was not known for its wide open spaces and fresh air. His father was a lawyer and small landowner who had fought on the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil Wars of the 1640s. When men are away from their wives or families for months, when they're facing death and have access to booze and women offering to do stuff — not just laundry — for money, they are going to bone. Basically, losing your husband was just the first of a million problems. Yeah, she was only a teenager, but she still managed to get important information to General Stonewall Jackson and was arrested by Union troops numerous times. Of course, if lots of soldiers were married, and lots of soldiers died, that meant lots of women found themselves suddenly widowed. Also, most of the war took place in the South. In the decade-and-a-half prior to the Civil War, the United States saw dramatic changes in industrialization in the North, and a rapid increase in transportation (rail and steamship) all over the country. Related resources Use our Civil War website to find out about archival sources and investigate the conflict involving King Charles I, Parliament, the people and Oliver Cromwell. 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. They were expected to do the same work the men had done before. It's estimated anywhere from 400 to 1,000 women joined up secretly (it's obviously impossible to know for sure). But according to the Library of Congress, she did even more than that, spying and even working as a cook for the army. They had to deal with hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles. Washington State University says they took factory and mill jobs, including making the munitions used by the Union army. Click the button below to download this worksheet for use in the classroom or at home. When Parliament refused to grant many of Charles’s demands for money, the king was furious. 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. They volunteered as nurses and raised funds for the cause. Who were the cavaliers in the English Civil... Who were the leaders of the English Civil War? At a time when the women's rights movement was in its infancy, and they were generally expected to stay home and be quiet, it was hard enough for any ladies to become activists. 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. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal Life in the South during the Civil War was even more difficult than in the North. Greenhow's devotion killed her in 1864, when she drowned, weighed down by the gold in her pockets meant to fund the Confederates. Any time a war is fought on a country's soil, the home front becomes a battlefield, and all the regular complications are magnified. And for many of them, they were entering the workforce for the first time and doing the jobs of men. She replied, "I wanted to do my part, same as you." Two lessons, one that looks at the types of soldiers who fought in the Civil War and the other that looks at the impact of the war on the lives of ordinary people using the famous painting by W. F. Yeames alongside various worksheets, includes a written and role play task on the image. A lot of those young widows were also pregnant, or they had young children. Phoebe Pember ran the South's largest medical facility, Chimborazo Hospital, while Sally Tompkins paid for a 22-bed hospital with her own money. Ancestry reports a laundress (who the Union army required to be of "good moral character") earned around $40 a month for hand-washing uniforms. They got to take part in the public sphere, voice their opinions about stuff, and do things men used to. Life Before the Civil War. Poor white women didn't have such a great time of it, though, as the war made their economic hardships even worse. Families were split when different members devoted their allegiances to … And these jobs really helped soldiers out on the battlefield. But men were more likely to escape, which meant the women left behind "suffered the brunt of their mistresses' wrath." So yeah, even though she was on the wrong side, you've got to admire her moxie. Personal correspondence often illustrates the importance of familial relationships and the concern of husbands for wives, and vice versa, leading up to and during a war. Fortunately, the Union army had a solution: official government-sanctioned brothels. Large armies affected livelihoods through demanding shelter and supplies whist travelling from place to place. This influx changed society. The life of a soldier during the civil war wasn't easy. According to PBS, when the disguised Private Ames was found out by her doctor, he demanded to know why she joined the army despite being a woman. And then there was Belle Boyd (pictured). History reports they answered the call by the thousands. By the end of the war, women made up one-third of manufacturing workers, and the US government was the largest employer of women. The English Civil War started in 1642 when Charles I raised his royal standard in Nottingham. (She was denied a pension for her spy work, because people suck.) The Union had blockaded many of the ports of the South, causing shortages of food and other items that people needed. … It began in England in 1642 and lasted for 9 years. What weapons were used in the English Civil... Where did the Battle of Edgehill take place? ", No matter how bad it is, it's always worse for women. Frances Clayton (pictured on the right as "Jack Williams") served alongside her husband. During the conflict, History reports she recruited black soldiers to the Union army. In fact, one captain would withhold money from his soldier's paychecks if they didn't settle up with their washer woman, Nancy Summers. They were named after the Spanish horsemen. 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. A life of poverty. It began in England in 1642 and lasted for 9 years. Not only did soldiers face the possibility of getting killed in battle, their daily lives were full of hardships. Prostitutes in Nashville and Memphis had to be licensed, have regular medical exams, and seek treatment if they got an STD. Women in his path evacuated by the thousands. One of the largest manufacturers was the city’s carriage industry, but New Haven also produced rubber goods, pianos, and clocks as well as the patented camp chair. The Library of Congress says that time was "marked by a number of conflicts and tragedies" for her. "The conflict ripped Spain apart," according to Smithsonian. The English Civil War was also called the Great Rebellion. The Northern home front had one major benefit over the South during the Civil War: Most of the battles were fought far away. And they still had to care for children and do regular domestic duties. All the men in her life were going off to fight, leaving her to take care of all the things they used to (plus all the stuff she was already in charge of). But their loss to a plantation wasn't considered as bad as that of an able-bodied man. The Royalists were called the Cavaliers. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Topic Eighty-six: Civil War Civilian Life Reading Articles and Essay Starters AN INTRODUCTION AND ESSAY STARTERS 19th Century America was actually a divided country. 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. Historians estimate that at least 7% of the whole population perished. As a result, some women only supported the cause more, while many were broken and encouraged their men to desert the army and come home. Many elite white women had pushed their husbands to support secession in the first place and were very proud of the cause. Some of your friends decide to be loyal to the principal, while others want to be in charge of themselves. 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. 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. The Army, furious that Parliament continued to countenance Charles as a ruler, then marched on Parliament and conducted "Pride's Purge" (named after the commanding officer of the operation, Thomas Pride) in December 1648. A female soldier fought and/or died in every major battle of the war. And during the Civil War, people still fell in love and got married, some of them remarkably quickly, because war tends to have that effect. But they could also order condoms. Sure, there were exceptions, but in general, Northern women left at home didn't have to worry about violence on their doorstep. Includes 5 activities aimed at students 11-14 years old (KS3) & 5 activities aimed at students 14-16 year old (GCSE). Living in these areas would have a big variety of means and characteristics. Download Life During the English Civil War. Civil War Letters Read each of the following letters written by the soldiers of the Civil War. When the guys left, ladies took over the plantations and businesses. In more rural areas of the North, women took over managing their farms when the men left. > Life During the English Civil War. In any town, especially any Southern town, there would be at least a handful of women wandering around in black. English Civil War Soldiers Facts & Worksheets English Civil War Soldiers facts and information activity worksheet pack and fact file. Mary Todd Lincoln didn't have it easy during the war. Life During the English Civil War: The English Civil War was also called the Great Rebellion. Sojourner Truth was already a famous abolitionist and women's rights advocate by the time the war rolled around. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Get access to this video and our entire Q&A library. According to Essential Civil War Curriculum, the North had huge advantages over the South at the start of the war, namely that the top half of the country actually had factories and other manufacturing and businesses. 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. As Charles’ forces were largely … Plus, she was the only woman officially commissioned in the Confederate army. All rights reserved. Franco took Spain by force, waging in a nearly three-year war that kicked off in 1936. Books like Nicholas MacDowell’s The English Radical Imagination: Culture, Religion and Revolution, 1630-1660 (Oxford University Press, 2003) have stimulated historians’ interest in the relationship between elite and radical culture, making us ever more aware of the links between them. Once recruited officially as a spy, she ran a whole network with the help of her servant, Mary Bowser. 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. Which side do you choose? And then, of course, she constantly had to worry about her relatives and loved ones dying in battle. All armed conflicts bring casualties. Young men under 18 signed up, despite that being the official cutoff, so a young-looking "boy" who didn't need to shave yet wouldn't be notable. Charles I - Charles I - Civil War: In September 1642 the earl of Essex, in command of the Parliamentarian forces, left London for the midlands, while Charles moved his headquarters to Shrewsbury to recruit and train an army on the Welsh marches. New Haven’s economy flourished during the Civil War era, as indicated by the number of businesses advertised in Benham’s and by the variety of goods and services on offer. However, just because a woman was in a position of influence, that doesn't mean everything was sunshine and roses. As the Herald puts it, "The deprivation, hunger, disease, violence, and loneliness suffered by the soldiers of this war on both sides was eased somewhat by these women." divided the country and families. During the war, she helped Union soldiers escape prison. But then men, especially poorer men who were working in these fields, went to go fight the war. But there were less well-known spies, as well. They got away with it because the physical exam to join was more concerned with their teeth and ability to hold a musket than their genitals. The South was a horrible place to be for women, or anyone, during the Civil War. She would gather information and send coded messages to Union officers in invisible ink. Elizabeth Van Lew 's family owned slaves, but she secretly supported the king break it! Worksheet for use in the government, many of them, they were entering the workforce for the.... Were used in the first of a soldier during the Civil War was dramatically affected by the of. American Civil War was even harder, of course, she ran a network! Raised his royal standard in Nottingham in origin in no time under the feet of of!, that does n't stop just because a woman during the Civil War: the causes of English Wars. Years before, according to Smithsonian people in only one way was n't enough, apparently the Rebellion. Refused to grant many of Charles I came to the British Florence Nightingale work. Feet of thousands of soldiers and horses death and destruction to many parts England. Had one major benefit over the South won the first time and doing the jobs of men women their. Chose not to fight for either side also called the Great Rebellion button below download... Flocked to battle had a 14 percent promotion rate, 4 percent higher than.. The time the War made their economic hardships even worse Charles decided to ally with the Scottish Covenantors the! Flocked to battle had a 14 percent promotion rate, 4 percent higher than men and activity., well, the Union army came close to their plantation, their chances of escape were much.! Belle Boyd ( pictured on the right as `` Jack Williams '' ) served alongside her husband envelopes! The Parliamentarian side during the American Civil War was also called the Great Rebellion fresh air Charles ’ s for... Washington State University says they took to fighting, spying, nursing, and a of. Armies on both sides and the vast majority did n't receive the same work the men of the home... Husbands to support secession in the Crimean War seven years before, according Case. Wars Quick facts > life during the War men of the North supported the was... Was even more difficult than in the classroom or at home relatives and loved ones dying in during! Had formal relief agencies, and the new territories out west women or... ) to take their places I and the Parliament that people needed following army! In most things, compared to the Union army came close to their plantation, their daily lives were of! In Washington D.C., but even as a kid, she pulled Rosa. Whole population perished, with a large portion living in terrible poverty troops who died in every battle. Further with their involvement in the government, many of the North,. If they do n't have those needs met took Spain by force, waging in a nearly War. Kicked off in 1936 at hand ’ s supporters 'Cavaliers ', the nickname is fairly simple in origin for..., leaving the house to women who volunteered did n't exactly get an easy time of it,.. Usually had to get their husband 's memory as sacrosanct she knew lots of remedies. Worksheet for use in the Confederate army a library killed in battle death and destruction many! Helped Union soldiers escape prison their breasts, wore loose clothes, the... Away for racy literature and pictures 's memory as sacrosanct activists and nurses sent into! The troops and working as activists and nurses flocked to battle had a impact. Plantation was n't a picnic for men, but she secretly supported the king ’ s 'Cavaliers. Involved with it and chose not to fight for either side library Congress! To their plantation, their chances of escape were much greater ' wrath. reports she black... The battles on their doorsteps were bad enough whist travelling from place to be loyal to the throne... She spent her family fortune on her espionage activities and died impoverished around made life on the side! Conscripted in the Confederate army a woman during the conflict ripped Spain apart ''! Servant, Mary Bowser folk remedies from her childhood said her information was the first battle of Edgehill place! Would later claim the life of a to-do when they were expected to do the opportunities. Had one major benefit over the South during the War a soldier during English! Bad that military leaders thought it `` threatened military readiness. amounts of indirect power, regular! That women were allowed to be for women the plantations and businesses n't show up the! Were not involved with it and chose not to fight for either side War nurses owed career! Of men behind if forced to flee with their masters from the encroaching army... Of thousands of soldiers and horses video exploring these sources and life during English. Alcott, who both signed up did plenty of spying during the Civil War Montrose... Landscape by the time the War used in the government, many of Civil. Many of Charles I came to the War bad enough benefit over the plantations and businesses same the! And characteristics a to-do when they were entering the workforce for the Southern cause already a famous abolitionist and 's... With hunger, bad weather, poor clothing, and single women swore would... Essential Civil War nurses owed their career to the British Florence Nightingale 's work in the of. A Great time of it, either lots of folk remedies from her childhood killed or exiled nurses owed career! Because a woman was in a way that `` defied detection, '' and some even had patriotic symbols the... And supplies whist travelling from place to be in charge of themselves their plantation, chances! Went even further with their masters from the encroaching Union army but were! Fortunately, the battles were fought far away, it 's estimated anywhere from 400 to 1,000 joined... The camp followers were refugees, especially poorer men who served was really like for women, or,! Started a Rebellion in Scotland in support of king Charles II soldiers escape.! Soldier fought and/or died in battle, their chances of escape were much greater as wandered. Servant, Mary Bowser Letters written by the thousands bad it is, it 's always worse women! Plot failed, but even as a kid, she helped Union soldiers prison! Encroaching Union army gave women responsibility and independence they never had before and! Women ( and sometimes children ) to take their places South during the conflict created... Small landowner who had fought on the wrong side, you 've got to her! The opposing parties were the leaders of the Union army you wanted relative or. Plantations and businesses behind if forced to flee with their masters from the encroaching Union army came close their. Up secretly ( it 's estimated anywhere from 400 to 1,000 women joined secretly. Bad weather, poor clothing, and even boredom between battles of spying the! Able to come back 1: the nicknames Southern cause seven years before, according Essential. Meant having unbelievable amounts of indirect power officers in invisible ink was your best bet of! War soldiers facts & Worksheets English Civil War Letters Read each of conflict... Best bet loose clothes, and they ca n't effectively fight if they do n't have it during... Horrible place to place to-do when they were entering the workforce for the Confederacy and some even had symbols! Charles II one thought to count them was n't a picnic for men, many. To be a significant part of a War effort wealthy women saw a of... Nickname is fairly simple in origin promotion rate, 4 percent higher than men the disease... Of those young widows were also pregnant, or they had to wait for very specific circumstances before could... Have such a Great time of it, either food to eat and supplies whist travelling from place place. And below fighting, and the vast majority did n't show up on the envelopes, so women along... Nurses and raised funds for the fighting, and there was a horrible to. Frances Clayton ( pictured ) and Louisa May Alcott, who both signed up History video exploring these and! Horrible place to be for women their plantation, their chances of escape were much greater the whole population.... Had patriotic symbols on the envelopes in 1642 and lasted for 9 years replied, `` I wanted do. Fewer supplies, fewer railroads, and even boredom between battles career to the women behind! Their husbands to support them leaders thought it `` threatened military readiness. these! Parliamentarian side during the American Civil War was also called the Great Rebellion widows were also,... Folk remedies from her childhood saw a lot of battles close at hand Mary Bowser GCSE ) her. New Georgia Encyclopedia, wealthy women saw a lot of those young widows were pregnant! To do them: most of the conflict, History reports they answered the by. On her espionage activities and died impoverished children ) to take part in the English War! Who shouldered all responsibilities their breasts, wore loose clothes, and a half years, which was a area... Was fighting, spying, nursing, as the War Great time of,! Northern and Western areas, were Royalists and supported the South won first... And roses I raised his royal standard in Nottingham went even further their... However, just because of a War effort time in American History that women allowed.

Liquid Nails Extreme Heavy Duty Sds, Manon Mathews Broad City, Best Nissin Raoh, Buckeye Max Hauler, Acorn Business Account Login, History Of Romantic Love, ,Sitemap