Question

Compare and contrast the effect of War on women to the effect of War on African Americans.

Answer 1

The effect of War on women and African Americans:

When the war began, women saw a great opportunity to prove themselves by taking up the roles they had never had the chance to take up. Women started working as nurses, helpers, spies and some of them even wanted to get on the battlefield but women were not allowed to fight. Those who were very determined to fight, disguised themselves as men and joined the military.  

For African Americans, the war was a way out of their slavery. Along with the emancipation, the war affected their participation in military services. They joined troops to fight back against slavery. Although in the north, they weren’t accepted to volunteer in the war as they were considered “too weak to fight against the whites"". However, by the end of the war the image for African Americans had changed. The war witnessed a large number of African Americans participating in military services and navy.