Women's lives were transformed by the Civil War. In the years before the war, women were primarily housewives. New paths opened up for women while men left their occupations by the thousands to fight in the war. Out of necessity and a desire to help, women have accessed these vacant positions. During the Civil War, women filled many roles, some of which had previously been held by men. Women proved capable of much more than was socially acceptable for them at the time, which helped pave the way for change. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayDr. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to become a physician in the United States. She didn't give up, even though countless medical schools rejected her applications. Her persistence paid off and she was eventually accepted into a New York medical school, even though her acceptance letter was meant to be a joke. Her male peers harassed her, her professors forced her to sit apart from men, and she was often excluded from labs. She went on to graduate at the top of her class and become the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, earning the respect of her classmates and professors. After graduating, she struggled to find her place in the medical field, as female doctors were not allowed to work in hospitals and were often restricted to midwives or nurses. During her training, she observed that male doctors spread infections and illnesses from patient to patient when they did not wash their hands. Taking time to develop her private practice, she eventually opened the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. Her sister and a friend also became doctors, joining the practice and ensuring that female doctors had a place there. During the Civil War, she helped found the Women's Central Association for Relief and the United States Sanitary Commission because she had extensive knowledge of hygiene and preventive care. She and her sister helped train the nurses they chose to work for the union. After the war, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell even opened her own medical school for women in New York. The nursing profession, which was a male profession, was filled by women who dedicated their time and efforts to the men fighting in the war. Thousands of women became nurses in hospitals across the country. Their care of sick and injured soldiers saved countless lives. They wanted to find a way to work on the front lines and care for sick and injured soldiers. The federal government created the United States Health Commission to help prevent disease and infection. They would improve hygiene and the quality of food in military camps and hospitals. Women's rights activists helped raise approximately fifteen million dollars over the four years of the war for supplies sent to the Union Army through the United States Sanitary Commission. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Paper EssayTo summarize, before the Civil War, women, for the most part, did not receive an education and were limited to domestic chores. We thought he was.