Clara Barton and the Civil War - Essay Example

Following her introduction to this organization during a stay in Europe, Clara Barton was the sole advocate for starting Red Cross chapters in America. She often stood alone in this quest. But standing alone for something she believed in was not a new experience for Clara Barton. Her first job in Washington D.C. was a clerk in the patent office, where she worked side-by-side with men. She caused scandal by being so proficient in her labors that her boss rewarded her with the same pay as her male co-workers.

This made Clara Barton the target of what we would refer to today as sexual harassment (Stivers). She stood up to her male detractors and earned the respect of her boss. This was an incredible achievement and required a lot of dedication and persuasion during this period of time.She was given the title “Angel of the Battle Field” because she took care of the wounded soldiers during the Civil War. She served on some of the bloodiest battlefields, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Petersburg and the Battle of the Wilderness (Oates).

She risked everything, including her own life to care for the injured and dying soldiers she tended to. This shows her selfless attitude towards other human beings. She did not even care for her own life because she was so dedicated to serving others. Clara Barton was a very human individual, however. She was not perfect in her interactions with others and in her personal relationships. Some feel that part of her drive to succeed and accomplish great things was rooted in the fact that she was often given to bouts of depression when she was not fighting for a cause (Burton).

This depression did not keep her from greatness. In 1861 Clara Barton, she was appointed as the Superintendent of Nurses and in the year 1869, she again served the soldiers in the Franco- Prussian War. The year 1873 saw her return to the United States where she began to organize the Red Cross. It took almost seven years for her to start the Red Cross Society. In 1881, Clara Barton achieved her dream of establishing the first Red Cross branch. She was also the first President of the Red Cross Society which was chartered to carry out her visions of caring for civilian victims of wars and disasters.

The society is still very active and serves millions of needy people worldwide. Red Cross society made a difference almost immediately by serving the victims of the yellow fever epidemic in Florida and helping the victims of the Johnston Flood in 1889. Through determination and hard work, Clara Barton accomplished much in her life. Though she was not perfect, she did not let her imperfections keep her from greatness. Clara Barton is an incredible woman.