Hardships of War Chapter 17 Section 4

The war effected everyone, soldier or civilian. The south hit particularly hard times because the war was being fought in the south. Charleston, South Carolina after the war.

Life was extremely hard for soldiers. Most soldiers were under the age of 21. As the war went on, and the south needed more soldiers, they began drafting boys as young as 17 and as old as 50.

New weapon technology like more accurate bullets and cannons made the death toll rise. In most battles, one-fourth or more were killed or wounded.

Sick and wounded soldiers faced the horror of unsanitary conditions in field hospitals. Amputation was a quick cure for injuries

Civil War Amputation Kit

Diseases killed more men than guns or cannon did. Many men deserted, or ran away to leave the horrible conditions AN UNWELCOME RETURN Three Months Volunteer - "What! don't you know me—your own husband ?" Daughter of Columbia - " Get away! No husband of mine would be here while the country needs his help."

By 1863, the union was having problems getting men to enlist. They solved this problem by instating a draft. The only way you could avoid fighting if you were drafted was to pay someone $300 to fight in your place. This angered many poor people. Some riots broke out in protest of the draft.

To stop the riots, Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus, which means he didn’t give people trials before he put them in jail. Eventually 14,000 people were arrested and jailed without a trial.

The south was having problems of its own. They were having an even harder time than the north trying to find soldiers.

The war was both good and bad for the northern economy. It was bad for the government because Lincoln had to spend so much money on the war. It was good for manufacturers because, they made a fortune selling items from the factories to the union army.

For the south, war brought economic ruin. The south had to struggle with the cost of the war, and the loss of the cotton trade.

Women helped with the war on both sides. They took jobs in industry and on farms. They also worked as nurses in field hospitals.