Civil War Women
Their Roles and Legacies
by
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Men in both the north and south answered the call to arms, leaving positions as teachers, nurses and government workers available to women. The industrialization in the north offered even more opportunity. Black women in the north not only worked in these same positions; they also began organizations to help the freed women of the south.
Due to the lack of non-farming industry, Southern women did not have the same opportunities as their northern counterparts. The devastation of the southern economy and its agricultural base did not afford many job opportunities for women. Some did work as teachers to replace the ladies who had returned north at the outbreak of war. Some became nurses to fill the slots that had been vacated by men. Some used their skills to be seamstresses, boardinghouse matrons and milliners, but as the war dragged on and inflation and scarcity began to dominate the southern landscape, even these jobs began to disappear. In
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About the Book
It is a work of nonfiction written to document and illuminate the achievements and struggles of the women of the Civil War period. It is my attempt to dispel the Scarlet O’Hara myth of feminine delicacy and incapability.
The story chronicles the trials, tribulations and solutions designed by women in both the North and the South. It characterizes the prewar years and the changes in the women''s world postwar. Parallels are drawn between what was happening in the invaded south and other areas of the country.
The Civil War drove women from their traditional roles of protected and dependent into the world previously populated solely by men. Fifty-three women are profiled showing their accomplishments as soldiers, nurses, spies, wage earners and plantation masters.
Little known achievements of Black women, some free, some slaves, some blessed with fortune, are presented. The book concludes with a discussion of the changes in society and the new roles of women after the war.
About the Author
After working 30 years for a major multinational corporation, Trish Chambers retired to pursue other interests, one of which was writing and giving presentations about the Civil War. Trish has performed at numerous libraries, schools, historical societies and national parks along the eastern seaboard. She is a member of the New York State Artists in Education program and the New York State Performers and Programs Database, a repository of library performance individuals. Other interests include Civil War reenacting, gardening, travel and volunteer work. Trish has been married for 30 years and has two sons and two grandchildren. She resides with her husband Brian in