Life During the Civil War

1. Life During the Civil War 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.

2. African Americans in the Fight • 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

3. 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.

4. Slave Resistance in Confederacy • 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.

5. Southern Economy • 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

6. Northern Growth • 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.

7. “SHODDY” BUSINESS • Many contractors who made military items cheated by creating cheap goods. • Blankets would often fall apart quickly, disintegrate • Passed spoiled meat as fresh

8. Fighting on the Line • 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

9. POW • 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 criminal • North camps no better, especially since southerners not accustomed to cold • Halted prisoner exchanges, got more overcrowded.

10. Clara Barton/Sanitary Commission/ Women • 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