What Was Life like during the Civil War?

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No other war in the history of the United States has sparked as much debate and conflict as the American Civil War. For over 150 years, the story of the Civil War has been a source of contention, confusion, and even contempt in American life. Even today, the American public cannot agree on the causes of the Civil War, never mind its lessons or legacy.
More Americans died in the Civil War than in WWI, WWII, and Vietnam combined. The war not only put Americans against Americans but family against family, neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend. The conflict between the Union and the Confederacy still runs deep in some parts of the United States. Indeed, the fundamental questions of the Civil War—questions about racial (in)equality, the rights of citizenship, and the role of government—remain hot debates today. In many ways, the war that claimed over 600,000 American lives a century and a half ago is still the biggest battle being waged on American soil.

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[obamacare]

"What was life like during the Civil War?"


Well, we might find out 1st hand if we continue in the direction we're going...

[larrybaker]

Everyone reeked. Very little hygiene and no antiperspirant.

[wizardofahhhs]

"Turn dem niggas loose!" ~Abe Lincoln

[HistorySkills]

Brilliant stuff. Saving this to share with my history class later!

[ABeautfulMess]

I do wish y'all would be more realistic in discussing the slavery issue. And the Souths reason for seperation. My family lived in Va. 15 children on a small farm..no slaves. We fought because government was not to make choices for states. If it really was All about slavery don't you think they would of set up a plan on what to do with said freed slaves. Nope they just wondered around with racism affecting their success.

[emilyjones]

Why was the British royal family used for the example about the rich people haha? I'm sure there are plenty of photos of rich american families of the time

[mikbe]

Too bad I was born too late! On the eve of the looming civil war, I would probably have come to the USA with Swiss gold francs and invested in steam technology for agriculture and sanitation, hygiene, infrastructure and education. Under the Swiss flag, two fast blockade runners like the S.S. Great Britain would have been purchased to supply both warring parties with contrebande goods! That would have been a lucrative business, from the proceeds of which I would probably have bought land.

[juliamarple]

I have been curious about this topic for awhile! No one talks about how the plain ol average housewife fared during those times.

[BrandonGallemore]

I love this country. Thanks for making all the great videos.

[petersiekmann]

Some of the visuals are anachronistic. What was the British Royal Family doing in this video, for example?

[catsupme]

saying the south only fought for their right to own people is blatantly false, other than that great video

[poopz]

this is the video ive been looking and waiting for. although i was hoping to shed more light on the civilian life as im looking to compare than to now if a civil war were to happen in these current times, what would life be like? would there still be people streaming movies, going out for social past times, going to work and school? while there were battles going on some where else and news and media split between news coverage. would film production still be going on? would cities be leveled? how much of life would still be seemingly normal as our brothers and sisters slaughter each other