Clara Barton supported many of the 19th century reform movements that affect our lives today. In her early years as an educator, Clara Barton advocated for public funded schools and established Bordentown’s first public school in 1852. While teaching in Hightstown she recognised the great need for free public schools in New Jersey. Barton travelled to Bordentown to secure permission from officials to build a free public school. This proved to be successful as seen in the increased attendance (from 200 to 600 students). This inspired the expansion of the school, and a new building was opened in 1853. Unfortunately a male educator was elected to lead the school causing Clara Barton to move to Washington, D.C. http://www.njwomenshistory.org/discover/biographies/clara-barton/ Clara Barton was a pioneer of women’s rights. Her first display of this was when she resigned from teaching after a male educator was elected (at twice her salary!) as the
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Her need to reach out to other soldiers outside Massachusetts inspired her to advocate for the ability to travel to battlefield hospitals which were restricted to male-only staff by both military regulations and societal customs. On August 3rd 1862, Clara Barton received official permission from the U.S. surgeon general to travel battlefields and provide medical supplies and relief aid. This changed the role of women in American wars. For the first time in American history women were able to nurse soldiers and provide assistance to military surgeons on the battlefields thus increasing the survival rates of wounded soldiers, although Clara Barton was not technically a nurse. In 1866 the Angel of the Battlefield testified before Congress about the Andersonville prison grounds which had neither shelter nor running water. She also worked with the Sanitary Commission to improve field hospital and prison sanitation.
Her need to reach out to other soldiers outside Massachusetts inspired her to advocate for the ability to travel to battlefield hospitals which were restricted to male-only staff by both military regulations and societal customs. On August 3rd 1862, Clara Barton received official permission from the U.S. surgeon general to travel battlefields and provide medical supplies and relief aid. This changed the role of women in American wars. For the first time in American history women were able to nurse soldiers and provide assistance to military surgeons on the battlefields thus increasing the survival rates of wounded soldiers, although Clara Barton was not technically a nurse. In 1866 the Angel of the Battlefield testified before Congress about the Andersonville prison grounds which had neither shelter nor running water. She also worked with the Sanitary Commission to improve field hospital and prison sanitation.