In your opinion, in what ways (if any) did the gendered violence of the Civil War and Reconstruction period differ from earlier periods?

Whether it was the violence done to Frances Thompson and Lucy Smith or the violence that Lizzie Scott Neblet meted out against those in her household, violence is at the heart of the articles by Faust and Rosen. This is not the first time that we have encountered violence in our readings: the themes of rape, assault and power have come up before in this class. In your opinion, in what ways (if any) did the gendered violence of the Civil War and Reconstruction period differ from earlier periods? In other words, what makes wartime violence different from prior episodes of violence against women? Support your claims with evidence from any of the assigned readings. You may draw on earlier examples, but be sure to refer to this week’s readings, too.

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