Final answer:
The Civil War shifted views on women's capabilities, as women took on new roles, leading to an acknowledgment of their abilities and some expansion of their rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Civil War profoundly shifted perceptions of women's capabilities and their roles in society. During the conflict, women on both sides took on new responsibilities, including managing farms and businesses, volunteering in organizations like the United States Sanitary Commission, caring for wounded soldiers, and engaging in acts of espionage and combat. This visibility in traditionally male-dominated spheres led to an acknowledgment of their competency and an expansion of their social and legal rights.
Post-war, these contributions paved the way for arguments supporting greater gender equality, breaking typical notions that women belonged only in the private sphere. Despite this progress, many still hoped that traditional gender roles would return after the war, but the experience of women during the war made it clear they were capable of much more.