Women in the Confederate Homefront during the Civil War

Study Notes

In the Confederacy during the Civil War, women, particularly white women, played significant roles in the homefront due to the absence of men who were off fighting in the war.
Drew Faust's book "Mothers of Invention" challenges the traditional image of patriotic upper-class Southern women, highlighting how the war disrupted their traditional roles and led to their withdrawal of support for the war effort.
Stephanie McCurry's book "Confederate Reckoning" focuses on lower-class women, particularly soldiers' wives, and their political mobilization during the war.
McCurry emphasizes that the actions of these poorer women in demanding government assistance should be viewed as political and a form of power within society.
Poorer women in the Confederacy, as soldiers' wives, flooded the government with demands for support, challenging the notion of coverture where women were seen as appendages of their husbands.
The economic hardships faced by these women led to protests and demands for assistance from the government, highlighting the challenges faced by families on the homefront during the war.
The disaffection of women on the homefront, particularly soldiers' wives, had repercussions on the morale of the Confederate army, leading to politicians addressing their demands through exemptions from taxation and the creation of a welfare system.

Description

Test your knowledge on the significant roles played by women, especially soldiers' wives, in the Confederate homefront during the Civil War. Learn about their political mobilization, challenges, and impact on the war effort.