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Armed with invisible ink, a cipher system, and a passion to end the war and preserve the Union, Elizabeth Van Lew became Butler's eyes and ears in the Confederate capital city. Truth be told, however, she became much more than that. She became a spymaster, the person responsible for running a network of agents, couriers, and safe houses that was very active during the war. In addition to the spying, Elizabeth Van Lew continued to maintain her Church Hill home as a safe house and something of a local Union spy headquarters. —The Dark Game, Paul Janeczko What is the central idea of this passage?

User Ben Hardy
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Final answer:

Elizabeth Van Lew was a pivotal spymaster for the Union during the Civil War, heading a network of spies and safe houses within the Confederate capital, signifying her exceptional role beyond societal norms of the time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central idea of the passage about Elizabeth Van Lew is that she was a significant figure in the Union's intelligence gathering efforts during the American Civil War. She managed a complex network of spies and safe houses within the Confederate capital and went beyond the role of an informant to become a spymaster, ultimately playing a crucial part in supporting the Union's cause. This was at a time when women's roles in society were limited, yet she challenged these norms by contributing strategically to the war effort with her resourcefulness and patriotism.

User Artyom Akselrod
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Answer:

Van Lew contributed to the development of systems and structure for spies .

Explanation:

:)

User Sourav Gupta
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