Download Impact of the War

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Impact of the War
The life of the Civil War soldier was extremely harsh. Many men died from disease and exposure in
battlefields far from their friends and family. Soldiers, however, were not the only Americans to
experience the hardships of war. The Civil War is often called The War Between the States. It was
more than just a battle between states, however. It also pitted brother against brother and friend
against friend. Sadly, Civil War soldiers often found themselves fighting against family members and
friends on the battlefield. A good example of this can be found in Abraham Lincoln’s own family.
While he led the Union, some of his brothers-in-laws fought in the Confederate army!
Civil War soldiers were involved in extremely brutal combat. Advancements in artillery and weapons
made this an especially deadly war. Grenades, torpedoes, and repeating rifles were used for the first
time during the Civil War. Cannon shots could travel hundreds of yards and pointed bullets, not round
musket balls, could fire with greater accuracy and travel greater distances. If a soldier survived all of
this to reach the enemy line, the battle became a man-to-man fight to the death. Although
approximately 620,000 Americans died during the Civil War, most of the deaths were not caused by
combat. Disease was the major killer. Dirty water, lack of sewers, spoiled foods, and the unsanitary
treatment of injuries killed many men. Filthy clothing and bedding filled with lice, ticks, and fleas
added to the poor health of the soldiers. Diseases such as measles, pneumonia, chickenpox, and
tuberculosis, as well as intestinal ailments killed twice as many men as battle.
Give two reasons why the Civil War was more deadly that the Revolutionary War, War of 1812,
and Mexican-American War combined.
The war also affected the lives of American women. Most women stayed with their homes and
families during the fighting. They ran the family farms, businesses and plantations, served as nurses,
and worked in factories. In addition they aided the war effort by sewing uniforms, providing shelter for
soldiers and serving as spies for the Union and Confederate governments. Clara Barton is a good
example of the contributions made by women during the Civil War. She was a Civil War nurse who
traveled behind the battle lines to distribute supplies to wounded soldiers. Following the war, she
established the American Red Cross.
How did women aid in the war effort?
African Americans also played a very important role in the Civil War. They fought in both the
Confederate and Union armies, but were paid less than the white soldiers. In addition, they were
discriminated against and served in segregated units under the command of white officers. African
Americans also served as sailors. The Union enlisted African American sailors early in the war while
the Confederacy often used slaves as naval crew members. Robert Smalls is a good example of the
contributions of African Americans during the Civil War. After escaping from slavery in the South, he
became a sailor and Union naval captain. He was highly honored for his bravery and heroism and later
became a Congressman for his home state of South Carolina.
How were African American soldiers discriminated against during the Civil War?