American Civil War
Before the Civil War, "womanhood" was associated with the private, domestic sphere. Women were responsible for maintaining a nurturing environment in the household. The scale and intensity of the war inspired thousands of women to bring those attributes to the battlefield. Some women volunteered for relief societies or in brigades. Others served as nurses and spies.
Historians have documented women's participation in Civil War battles. Nearly 20,000 women worked for the Union effort alone. Over 10,000 women acted as nurses and at least 250 served as soldiers themselves. This section highlights works that share some of the many ways that women supported the war effort.