Final answer:
During the Civil War, black women served as nurses, social workers, activists, and in domestic roles, facing segregation and limited opportunities. They formed aid organizations like the Women's Charitable Benevolent Association and engaged in political activism during Reconstruction, despite often being relegated to voluntary service or segregated work environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Black women during the Civil War played vital roles, including nursing, espionage, domestic labor, and activism. In the United States, they took on factory and office work in limited cases due to the absence of male workers. Overseas service by African American women was less common, with a few serving with the YWCA to aid soldiers and two serving as social workers in France. Additionally, Black women formed the Women's Charitable Benevolent Association to look after the poor and sick, and some secured federal government jobs or defense industry positions. Yet, they often faced segregation and were limited to positions vacated by white women or boys.
Some women accompanied armies as “camp followers,” providing essential services as cooks, washerwomen, and nurses, and a few even engaged in combat. Despite their contributions, Black women were generally prevented from working in factories and their voluntary contributions to the war effort were usually the only work available to them. However, they fostered strong support networks, advocated for better treatment, and, in some instances, received black supervisors.
The end of the Civil War and the Reconstruction era saw Black women's political activism increase, often attending national conventions as delegates. They played a key role in shaping a post-war society, with their work during the war laying a foundation for future progress and rights.