A Difficult Time

The Civil War transformed the lives of thousands of Americans, bringing many great hardships and casualties during the war. As the fighting intensified, conscription was introduced on both sides, requiring a draft that forced men to serve in the army. Although African Americans only encompassed 1% of the North’s population, about 180,000 African Americans fought for the Union, composing 10% of the Union Army. Horrible conditions and poor medical care led to heavy fatalities on both sides, with dysentery, body lice and diarrhea common. Conditions in the war prisons however were even worse, where disease ran rampant with overcrowding. The North was only slightly better, with an increased amount of food and space for prisoners. An estimated 15% of Union prisoners in South died in contrast to 12% of Confederate prisoners in the North died.

Thousands of women also contributed to the war effort, and many worked as army nurses. Clara Barton, a dedicated Union army nurse, treated soldiers at the front line and went on to found the American Red Cross after the war. Both sides benefited greatly because of the nursing effort by the women, and they became an invaluable resource as casualties skyrocketed.

Overall, the war obliterated the South’s economy and the Confederacy soon faced a food shortage, due to loss of manpower and Union control of food-growing areas. This led to food prices escalating sharply and the inflation rate rising 7,000%, greatly damaging the economy. The North’s economy on the other hand expanded with the war, as army supplies sustained woolen mills, steel foundries and other industries. This growing economy led to the first income tax by Congress, in an effort to help pay for the war.

By Matt M, Kiki G