DO NOW:

Journal #2-

Describe in 3-4 sentences what you think life was like as a soldier during the Civil War.

Then, describe what you think life was like for those left at home throughout the war in another 3-4 sentences.

LIFE DURING THE CIVIL WARLIFE DURING THE CIVIL WAR

1862 – Congress passed a law allowing Blacks to serve

After the Emancipation Proclamation, many more enlisted

Only 1% of population, 10% of enlistment Former slaves from Confederacy, namely

VA, MD, PA. Discrimination:

Served in separate regiments with White officers,

Earned $3 less/month with no clothing allowance.

Assigned to labor duty in germ-ridden areas, caught deadly diseases.

Congress equalized pay in 1864

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE FIGHT

As POW of Confederates, usually executed, unlike whites. Ex. Fort Pillow – massacred 200 African Americans

Did slaves fight in the South? Confederacy considered drafting slaves and free

blacks (1863 and 1864) For: Since slaves “cause the fight” they should fight it Against: If slaves make good soldiers, our idea of

slavery is wrong.South armed slaves in 1865 as the Confederacy

grew desperate.

As Union army came closer, thousands of slaves resisted owners and awaited their freedom to go North

Many others did not perform their tasks, or destroyed plows and fences, didn’t feed livestock—only women and children were left as overseers

In some areas, slave resistance led to violence

Southerners increased slave patrols and spread rumors about how Union soldiers abused runaways

By 1864, Southerners realized slavery was doomed.

SLAVE RESISTANCE IN CONFEDERACY

Food shortages due to: Drain of manpower into the army Union occupation of food-growing areas Loss of slaves to work in fields

Spent from $6.85 on food per month to $68 a month

Caused bread riots, broken up by Jefferson Davis

Some Confederate storage of rice released

Union blockade of ports caused other shortages (salt, sugar, coffee, nails, needles, medicines)

Caused smuggling of goods into North in exchange of gold

SOUTHERN ECONOMY

Army’s demand for goods supported factories, boomed industries

Farmers needed equipment since no workers, benefitted manufacturers

Wages did not keep up with prices, standard of living declined

Strikers replaced with blacks, immigrants, women, and boys to replace them with lower pay

Created first income tax to tap into economic wealth to help pay for war.

NORTHERN GROWTH

Many contractors who made military items cheated by creating cheap goods.

Blankets would often fall apart quickly, disintegrate

Passed spoiled meat as fresh

“SHODDY” BUSINESS

Heavy casualties

Filthy surroundings garbage, bathroom designations (open

pits), showers Body lice, dysentery, diarrhea

Limited Diet Beans, bacon, pickled beef, hardtack

(hard biscuits) “Cush”- beef and cornbread crumbled

into bacon grease (stew)

Inadequate medical care

FIGHTING ON THE LINE

Andersonville – Confederate Prison in GA 33,000 men into 26 acres No shelter from sun of rain No food Water source was sewer source 1/3 prisoners died Henry Wirz, camp commander was

executed as war criminalNorth camps no better, especially

since southerners not accustomed to cold

Halted prisoner exchanges, got more overcrowded.

POW

Movement to improve hygienic conditions of camps in the North through US Sanitary Commission (set up by women and doctors) Teach soldiers how to avoid polluting

water supply Hospital trains and ships to transport

wounded men

Clara Barton War nurse, collected supplies, cared for

sick/wounded

Effects: Considerable improvement in Union death rate for the time

Improvement of opportunities for women

CLARA BARTON/SANITARY COMMISSION/ WOMEN