Women Of The American Civil War - 1499 Words

In Mothers of Invention, Drew Gilpin Faust has written a wonderful history of the â€Å"Women of the Slaveholding South in the American Civil War†. This informative study allows the reader to get a look into the life of privileged white women of the south. Faust uses diaries, political documents, newspapers and personal letters, to give the reader to experience things through the eyes and in the words of the women themselves. Faust presents a number of southern women whose lives were changed by the societal upheavals caused by the civil war. The book, proficiently explains how the civil War influenced and changed the advantaged and cultured women of the slave holding south. It is successful at examining how gender and race deteriorated and then altered from the beginning through the end of the military operation. The introduction leading into chapter one depicts the platform for which these women experienced before the war and leads the reader through the unavoidable changes that occurred out of necessity. Foust frameworks their relationships in society before the firing at Fort Sumter and rationalizes that from the very beginning, many women realize that their lives would be forever transformed. A major theme initiated in chapter one and successively intertwined throughout the book, is that of social differences between the women of the north from that of the south and how it correlated to their responses to the war. Most Affluent women of the south defined themselves inShow MoreRelatedWomen Of The American Civil War1369 Words   |  6 Pages Mothers of Invention: Women of the Slaveholding South in the American Civil War provides a look into the rarely discussed topic of women in the South during the time of the Civil War. While other authors consider the implications of slavery or military tactics from the viewpoint of men, Faust offers a refreshing take on these subjects along with others to construct a narrative that examines the role of women from a gender and class standpoint. Additionally, Faust suggests that women’s roles withinRead MoreWomen Of The American Civil War1357 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Civil War was a time of great trial and tribulation for the American people. It forced individuals to choose a cause, and many families were torn asunder as they chose opposing sides. As the men marched off to war a small group of women prepared to wage a different kind of warfare. These women became an overlooked but deadly force using espionage and womanly wiles to gather military intelligence for the ir cause. They used whatever means they had at their disposal to enter into the confidenceRead MoreThe Contributions Of Women In The American Civil War .1576 Words   |  7 PagesThe Contributions of Women in the American Civil War The Civil War was a divisive time in American history that tore the country in half for five long years (1861-1865). After the election of Abraham Lincoln, the southern states seceded from the north and formed the Confederate States of America because they saw their way of life being threatened. They wanted to fight for their right to have slaves and for states to have more power. The North (Union) fought because secession wasn t an option andRead MoreAmerican Women During The Civil War914 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the Civil War, the Republicans had views that the defeat of the rebels and destruction of slavery were sufficient to guarantee prosperity for everyone. The traumatic events throughout the Civil War only intensified the desire among a growing group of American women to participate fully in the nation s political life. They were striving for a sense of agency in the United States not only as a collective whole, but also as individuals. Agency refers to the idea that each i ndividual in a cultureRead MoreWomen Spies in the American Civil War2015 Words   |  9 Pagesmillion deaths the most gruesome war in American history drove citizens to action. The suffering during this era was so great many were inspired by nationalism to act. For those who were unable to join the fight upon the battlefield, espionage represented a chance for personal involvement. Although it is believed that many agents never sought recognition for their service, especially Confederate scouts, documentation depicts the espionage present during the American Civil War to be surprisingly sophisticatedRead MoreMothers Of Invention : Women Of The American Civil War1265 Words   |  6 PagesInvention: Women of the Slaveholding South in the American Civil War is a work by Drew Gilpin Faust, a renowned American historian and current President of Harvard University. Published in 1996 by the University of North Carolina Press in Chapel Hill, this is one of the several literary works by Fa ust describing history of the Civil War and of the American South. This nonfiction book includes 257 pages detailing the struggles and labors of the women on the Southern home front during the American CivilRead MoreAfrican American Women During The Civil War1227 Words   |  5 Pages †¢ Is the author s thesis clearly stated? (Restate in your own words) The exceptional rules of war that existed during the Civil War were essential. When it comes to the state of Tennessee, the early â€Å"capture† of the state was of strategically importance for the Union Army. With regards to the experience of African Americans who lived in the state or arrived there during the period of the state’s occupation and Andrew Johnson’s rule, the exceptional character and role of Tennessee turned out toRead MoreAfrican Americans And Women During The Civil War Essay739 Words   |  3 PagesAs of the mid-19th century and on was when African Americans and women were beginning to gain somewhat equal rights or were still disputing them. It is also well know that both have suffered in vastly different manners, but in some cases are very similar in certain struggles. African American men and women had to survive the terrors of the Ku Klux Klan in the southern states, managing life with the Black Code looming over their every move. They were basically fighting for something that a lot ofRead MoreWomen Demand Democracy : The American Civil War1157 Words   |  5 Pages2015 Women Demand Democracy The American Civil War was fought for freedom. However, even after the war, the concept of freedom was not universally understood. Freedom remained limited for certain individuals depending on their race, gender, and different class systems. The war especially had a great impact on the country’s social and political aspects of the entire population, particularly women. Essentially, it gave women the momentum to fight for their rights. Years before the civil war, womenRead MoreLittle Women During The American Civil War1348 Words   |  6 Pagesvery closed. A change within a family unit has an effect on the family’s dynamic and how the family members interact with each other. American culture reflects this in the belief that families are changed either positively or negatively by major emotional events. The family unit can be described in many different ways. Sometimes the family unit, like in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, consists of everyone that is blood related. The family unit can also extend past genetic barriers and represent