During the Civil War, the United States Sanitary Commission attempted to replace female charity networks and traditions of voluntarism with a centralized organization that would ensure women's support for the war effort served an elite, liberal vision of nationhood. Coming after years of debate over women's place in the democracy and status as citizens, soldier relief work offered women an occasion to demonstrate their patriotism and their rights to inclusion in the body politic. Exploring the economic and ideological conflicts that surrounded women's unpaid labors on behalf of the Union army, Jeanie Attie reveals the impact of the Civil War on the gender structure of nineteenth-century America. She illuminates how the war became a testing ground for the gendering of political fights and the ideological separation of men's and women's domains of work and influence.
Attie draws on letters by hundreds of women in which they reflect on their political awakenings at the war's outbreak and their increasing skepticism of national policies as the conflict dragged on. Her book integrates the Civil War into the history of American gender relations and the development of feminism, providing a nuanced analysis of the relationship among gender construction, class development, and state formation in nineteenth-century America.
NURSING, THE FINEST ART traces the social, political, and economic history of nursing from its origins through contemporary practice. Designed for nurses in all specialties and settings, this edition includes new material on nurses' involvement in recent world events; more international nursing information; and updated and expanded content on the historical significance of nursing associations. Perfect for all nurses with an interest in the history of their profession and an appreciation of fine artwork. Spanish version of 1st edition also available, ISBN: 84-7592-239-2
For more information, including a full list of entries, a generous selection of sample entries, and more, visit the Women During the Civil War website.Women During the Civil War: An Encyclopedia is the first A-Z reference work to offer a panoramic presentation of the contributions, achievements, and personal stories of American women during one of the most turbulent eras of the nation's history. Incorporating the most recent scholarship as well as excerpts from diaries, letters, newspapers, and other primary source documents, this Encyclopedia encompasses the wartime experiences of famous and lesser-known women of all ethnic groups and social backgrounds throughout the United States during the Civil War era.