The Impact of the Civil War
The Common Soldier
Life during the Civil War was rough for the common soldier. The majority of soldiers did not receive training like the military of today. In addition, soldiers were mostly farmers who enlisted and got sent directly to the battlefield. When soldiers were not fighting, they received some training, but had a lot of downtime. Many soldiers became sick because of poor diet and living conditions. In this interactivity, learn about experiences of the common soldier during the Civil War. Click the player button to begin.
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African American Soldiers
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| A contraband camp set up once there were too many escaped slaves to house in Fort Monroe |
Early in the Civil War, three slaves escaped to Fort Monroe in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The commander of the fort refused to return the slaves to their master, declaring them contraband. This policy eventually created the foundation that President Lincoln used in the Emancipation Proclamation. Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, the Union Army refused to allow African Americans into the military. However, this did not stop African Americans from helping the military. When Union Armies were nearby, many African Americans gained their freedom by fleeing to the Union Army. When this happened, they were not returned to their masters because the United States government considered the slaves contraband. The Union Army used escaped slaves, called contraband armies, to help with various labor tasks.
Once freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, African-Americans were allowed to enlist in the military. African-American soldiers had to experience the same horrible conditions as every other soldier. Although the African-Americans were allowed in the military, they were separated by skin color. A regiment with African American soldiers had a white officer because non-white soldiers could not achieve a high rank. This discrimination would continue for another 100 years. In this interactivity, learn about the impact African-American soldiers had in the Civil War. Click the player button to begin.
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54th Regiment from Massachusetts
The 54th Regiment from Massachusetts was one of the first regiments of African-American soldiers in the Union Army. The regiment led an attack of Fort Wagner and Morris Island, South Carolina, on July 16, 1863. The attack was a complete disaster. The regiment lost their commander and the majority of their soldiers. The 54th Regiment from Massachusetts exhibited bravery and honor in the face of defeat. They never retreated as they awaited reinforcements. While the 54th was not victorious in the battle, the use of African-Americans in the Union Army created a path for other African-American soldiers to enlist. View Georgia Stories: The Civil War and the Black Soldier from eMediaVASM to learn about the amazingly bravery of the 54th Regiment from Massachusetts.
Women's roles in the Civil War
During the Civil War, women had to fill nontraditional roles. For example, when men enlisted in the army women took over their responsibilities, including managing farms and fields. Women also had to maintain their households with little resources. Women had to deal with poverty and hunger, sometimes resorting to bread riots, like one that occurred in Richmond, Virginia. Some of the most important women of the Civil War chose to volunteer or become a nurse. In this interactivity, investigate how the different roles of women impacted the Civil War. Click the player button to begin.
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Impact of the Civil War Review
Now that you have explored the impact of the Civil War, complete this activity to check your knowledge. In this non-graded interactivity, read each question and check each box next to the correct answer(s). Click the player button to get started.