Spies in civil war and Sacajawea

Spies in civil war

During the American civil war, women were used as spies as they were seen as innocent and non-threatening. During the war the women spies would stay on their home farm or in a military camp and then report on information they collected from being around the military men. This could have helped American women as they were trusted with carrying out the task of giving information. Slowly both sides of the war realised the value of the women operatives. The harsh conditions they had to endure to only increased with higher suspicion on the spies, meaning that it became harder for them to obtain information. 

Sacajawea 

Sacajawea was a Native American women who helped Lewis and Clark on their discovery expedition in 1805-06. She helped on the expedition with navigation, communications, as she spoke two different languages, and helped when they encountered native Americans and helped settle disputes that could of occurred otherwise. This helped women, especially the native American woman, as she demonstrated that the native American woman and all women in general can be intelligent and defied the stigma against women just being seen as pretty and as a housewife. 

Sources;

https://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/spies/8.htm 

http://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/sacagawea