The Civil War is a turning point in American history because many changes and reforms were introduced after the war, and the ground was set for the battle for equal rights for all citizens of the country. American society of the times before war was, however, far from recognizing equal rights for women and men. Even John Adams believed that it is not reasonable to think that every man and woman deserve the same rights because it would “confound and destroy all Distinctions, and prostrate all Ranks, to one common Level.” Women could influence neither politics nor the war process, and they did not accord with this situation. Under such circumstances, they were forced to find their place, and although women did not generally partake in armed confrontations, the war could not have been fought without their participation.
The most important direction in the activities of women during the Civil War was charity work, as well as service in charity organizations. Women raised money and humanitarian aid to soldiers at the front. With the outbreak of war, charity organizations started appearing in both Confederate and Union territories. Work as nurses in hospitals was also an area of activity accessible to women. The social composition of female nurses was not homogeneous because among them were both women from the lower levels of American society and those who came from the public elite. Another interesting aspect of women’s activity during the Civil War was their participation in spying attempts and information gathering. There were, however, even those who, disguised as men, joined the military ranks. With the heterogeneous nature of women’s activities during the war, it is possible to conclude that the war would not be possible without their participation because there would be too many holes to fill.