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Women During the Civil War: The Civil War in Four Minutes

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During the Civil War, some women disguised themselves as men and fought for the Union and Confederate Armies.

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Harriet Tubman played a very important role in the Civil War through her work in the Underground Railroad and for the Union Army. She took on the responsibility of leading runaways northward and became a prolific abolitionist, even earning the nickname 'Moses' among slaves for her bravery and determination.

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During the Civil War, women served as spies on both sides. Confederate spy Belle Boyd flirted with Union soldiers to gain information which she then reported to the Confederate officials. Boyd was able to get away with it because of the common sexist belief that women were not intelligent enough to be spies, and that being a spy was unladylike. Belle Boyd actually used the sexist gender roles of the time to her benefit. She was practically the opposite of the image of the typical woman. Although she appeared innocent, Boyd was able to manipulate Union soldiers in order to help the Confederates.

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Although many people at the time believed that working in medicine was too gruesome for a woman, Clara Barton personally served as a nurse in many battles, such as Fredericksburg, Antietam, Chantily, and Second Bull Run. She also founded the American Red Cross in 1881. Barton is just one example of the women that contributed to the Civil War effort through signing up to be Nurses.

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Then take your gun and go,
Yes, take your gun and go.
For Ruth can drive the oxen, John,
And I can use the hoe.

Many women found that they were able to take care of themselves and to handle some of the responsibilities that were typically reserved for men in the household. This change in gender roles are demonstrated in the song "Take Your Gun and Go, John," which told the story of a woman capable of taking care of herself when her husband went off to war.

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Loretta Lynn - Take Your Gun And Go, John - Divided & United: The Songs Of The Civil War

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"Divided & United: The Songs Of The Civil War" released in 2013, is a 2 disc set which has some of the songs written between 1861 & 1865. There are the war songs we all know, but I didn't realize "Listen to the Mockingbird" was written during the Civil War era.

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Harriet Beecher Stowe's book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was a popular book about the cruelty of slavery. It significantly impacted the antislavery movement by generating antislavery sentiment throughout the North. Stowe helped carve the path for women's political contribution to society. She was able to motivate and inspire thousands of readers in the antislavery movement.

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Sojourner Truth, a former slave, was one of the boldest women abolitionists. This speech is especially important because it shows how Sojourner Truth completely defied all prior stereotypical roles for women, and to this day, is still seen as a powerful advocate of women's equality.

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Women's History Month is a celebration of women's contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women's History Month 2022 will take place from Tuesday, March 1-Thursday, March 31, 2022.
WATCH: Women's History Documentaries on HISTORY Vault
Why Do We Celebrate Women's History Month?

Women's History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women's history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.

The actual celebration of Women's History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women's contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a "Real Woman" essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.

A few years later, the idea had caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women's History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.
READ MORE: Women's History Milestones
International Women's Day

International Women's Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers.

The United Nations has sponsored International Women's Day since 1975. When adopting its resolution on the observance of International Women's Day, the United Nations General Assembly cited the following reasons: "To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security."
READ MORE: The Surprising History of International Women's Day
Women's History Month Theme 2022

The National Women's History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women's History Month. The 2022 theme is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope." This theme is "both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history."

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Women's History Month is a celebration of women's contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women's History Month 2022 will take place from Tuesday, March 1-Thursday, March 31, 2022.