THE WARTIME ECONOMIESCHAPTER 11.3

THE WARTIME ECONOMIES

• SOUTHERN ECONOMY: IN THE SOUTH FOOD SHORTAGES OCCURRED:

1. COLLAPSE OF THE SOUTH’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 2. PRESENCE OF UNION TROOPS IN MANY AGRICULTURAL REGIONS 3. SHORTAGES HURT THE SOUTHERN MORALE AND LED TO RIOTS

THE WARTIME ECONOMIES

• NORTHERN ECONOMY: ECONOMIC BOOM B/C OF WAR:

1. INCREASED USE OF MECHANICAL REAPERS AND MOWERS MADE FARMING POSSIBLE WITH FEWER WORKERS 2. WOMEN ENTERED THE WORKFORCE TO FILL LABOR SHORTAGES 3. THE NORTH PRODUCED AN ABUNDANCE OF CLOTHES FOR ITS SOLDIERS CLOTHING INDUSTRY PROFITED FROM GOVT. CONTRACTS

AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE MILITARY

• AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE OFFICIALLY ALLOWED TO ENLIST IN THE UNION ARMY AND NAVY AS A RESULT OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

• THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS JOINED THE MILITARY

• MANY THOUGHT THAT BY JOINING THE MILITARY IT WOULD HELP END DISCRIMINATION

• 54TH MASACHUSETTS: FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN REGIMENT OFFICIALLY ORGANIZED IN THE NORTH

54TH MASACHUSETTS

MILITARY LIFE• BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE

SUFFERED HARDSHIPS• FOOD WAS TASTELESS AND OFTEN

SCARCE• UNION SOLDIERS ATE HARDTACK (HARD

BISCUIT MADE OF WHEAT FLOUR)

BIVOUAC

MILITARY LIFE• DOCTORS: 1. HUGE NUMBERS OF CASUALTIES 2. DID NOT UNDERSTAND INFECTIOUS GERMS INFECTION SPREAD QUICKLY IN FIELD HOSPITALS 3. SMALLPOX AND PNEUMONIA SPREAD TO CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS 4. ARMS AND LEGS OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS WERE AMPUTATE TO PREVENT GANGRENE AND OTHER INFECTIONS

MILITARY LIFE• WOMEN IN THE CIVIL WAR: 1. MANAGE FAMILY FARMS AND BUSINESS 2. NURSES TO THE WOUNDED: A. ELIZABETH BLACKWELL: FIRST

FEMALE PHYSICIAN IN THE U.S. WHO STARTED THE FIRST TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NURSES LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION (PROVIDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLIES TO ARMY CAMPS AND HOSPITALS)

3. CLARA BARTON: NURSED SOLDIERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE RED CROSS IN THE U.S.

BLACKWELL BARTON

MILITARY LIFE• P.O.W.’S: 1. AT FIRST THE UNION AND THE SOUTH HAD A

FORMAL EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS 2. AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

THE SOUTH REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE AFRICAN AMERICANS AS FREE AND STOPPED EXCHANGING THEM FOR WHITE SOLDIERS

3. IN RESPONSE, LINCOLN STOPPED ALL PRISONER EXCHANGES

4. ANDERSONVILLE: SOUTHWEST GA POOR CONDITIONS (NO SHADE OR SHELTER FOR ITS HUGE POPULATION), EXPOSURE, OVERCROWDING, LACK OF FOOD,

AND DISEASE) THOUSANDS DIE HENRY WIRZ (COMMANDANT) IS THE ONLY PERSON EXECUTED FOR WAR CRIMES DURING THE C.W.

• - Prisoner of War Camps: •  •  

• Andersonville Civil War Prison, located in the village of Andersonville, Sumpter County, Georgia, became notorious for its overcrowding, starvation, disease, and cruelty.  It was in operation from February 1864 to April 1865.

•  • Andersonville Prison was established as a "stockade for Union

enlisted men".  The prison consisted of 27 acres and was enclosed with walls made of pine logs, which stood 15-20 feet high.  The "stockade" held a hospital but no barracks were ever constructed for the prisoners.  Originally intended to hold 10,000 men, Andersonville at one time held over 33,000 men.  According to records, a total of 49,485 prisoners went through the gates of Andersonville Prison.

•  • Prisoners suffered from hunger, disease, medical shortages, and

exposure.  The death rate at Andersonville was the highest of all Civil War prisons.  A staggering 13,700 men died within thirteen months!

•  • The superintendent of the prison was Captain Henry Wirz.  It is said he

was heartless and high-handed.  John L. Ransom, a Michigan sergeant and Andersonville prisoner, wrote in his diary on May 10, 1864:  "Captain Wirz very domineering and abusive, is afraid to come into camp any more.  A thousand men here would willingly die if they could kill him first.  The worst man I ever saw."  Captain Wirz was tried and hanged by a military court after the war.

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