How Did Clara Barton Contribute To The Military

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Born on December 25th, 1821 in North Oxford, Massachusetts, Clarissa “Clara” Harlowe Barton made a great impact on the lives of many. She was a volunteer teacher, worked for the U.S. Patent Office, and was the driving force behind the American Red Cross. Clara Barton accomplished many great things, but most of her efforts focused mainly on the members of the United States Military, because she wanted to help them stay healthy and serve the country.
When Barton was younger, she excelled in school. Her best subjects were reading and writing. She was well educated and her family members helped her to develop better social skills. She liked to help her family do things around the house, because she liked to feel helpful and have something to do. When she was eleven, Clara’s older brother became ill. She watched over him and nursed him back to health. Her brother’s illness was in some ways …show more content…

In May 1889, the Potomac River flooded and there was about two feet of water flooding the streets. A few members left Washington to go to Johnstown to help the survivors of the flood. They gave food and temporary shelter to those in need. When the members arrived, there was rubble in piles between twenty and thirty feet high. Many died and many were without food. Clara wrote, “…but if ever a people needed help it was these.” This quote shows the intensity and need of the situation. There was essentially a never ending stream of rain for weeks on end. The victims were getting supplies from many organizations, which was a tremendous help. This was another situation where Barton decided to aid many people who were in need. There were many other examples of times that Clara and other members of the Red Cross helped victims of natural disasters and wars. Some of these times include the Michigan forest fires, the Ohio River flood, the Texas famine, the Mount Vernon cyclone, and The Spanish-American

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