Women of the North: Contributions of Northern Women on the Homefront and on the Battlefield during the American Civil War

Abstract

During the American Civil War, the roles and responsibilities of women were shifting. The previous expectations of women were being greatly challenged due to the absence of their husbands and sons in the household. For the sake of themselves and their family’s survival, it was imperative that women overcome the obstacles which were faced daily. Women not only had to continue with their prior roles, but also learn new responsibilities and adjust accordingly to live. Women were tested on their abilities to maintain a family without a husband. Along with raising the families, they had to support their soldiers as well. This paper examines the many roles Northern women kept to, literally and figuratively, feed the spirit of the Union Army: how farming families, led by women, were able to sustain and feed the Northern Union army, how manufacturers were able to keep the Union soldiers clothed and armed, and how nurses cared for and risked their lives for the sake of the troops. The actions made by Northern Women, whether it be on the home front or on the battlefield, significantly contributed to the success of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Without their help, the Union Army would have lost the war.