User:Kristen46/Ladies' Aid Societies

Ladies' Aid Societies were put in place during the American Civil War. When the men were at war, on home soil, there was no one to bring supplies to them. The women of the nation took it upon themselves to care for the men. The beginning of the society included bringing food, blankets, and bandages to the men. Most men at this time died of infection, rather than wounds. Women went to sanitize more areas where the men were taken care of. This was the beginning of the nursing profession.

History of ladies' aid societies
During the American Civil War, groups of women formed organizations dedicated to providing supplies to soldiers on the battlefield and caring for sick and wounded soldiers. These groups were called ladies' aid societies or soldiers' aid societies. Over the course of the war, between 7,000 and 20,000 ladies' aid societies were established (Blair 2000). At the end of the war, many ladies' aid societies in the South transformed into memorial associations (Frank 2008).

Impact on the civil war
This impact of women was very important because the men were able to concentrate better than they ever had before. They were able to rest, eat better, and survive more because the women took the role of "caretaker". This deeply affected the war. Women such as Florence Nightingale secured new rules on sanitation. This in turn, passed laws for the country, which assured a cleaner, less-diseased nation overall.

Effect on women's roles within society
This society was the beginning of women having a role outside of the home. This was the beginning of a new era for women. The women's movement would have an impact 50 years later, but this could have been one of the first steps to independence. The women realized that there was a need for support on the battlefield. Their place was not only in the home. Women made an impact outside the home, and they could make an impact on the world.

This impact would ensure the need for independence. Women would realize that each had potential. These women worked tirelessly by volunteering time, energy, and resources. All of these duties were done without the help of men, who were fighting the war. Women, for the first time, were thrust into the world, and they thrived. Their energy was endless. Medical supplies, food, and cash were collected by women. Women inspected the cleanliness of facilities for the men. Women would begin impacted not only war, but the nation.

Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Blackwell were women who worked hard for the things that were most important to them. They were interested in changing the lives of men. Through sanitation, cleaning, volunteering, cash collecting, collecting supplies, and inspecting facilities, these two women brought women out of the house. For the first time in history, women started realizing their impact on society. They realized that men were not a necessity for their survival. They realized strength was within them. This would encourage women to look for roles outside the home at a steadily growing pace.