The involvement of the United States in major wars between 1898 and 1945 presented new and challenging employment opportunities, both civilian and military, for women. Expanding war economies and the departure of large numbers of men from civilian jobs to military duty created labor shortages that led to the employment of women in untraditional jobs usually denied to them during peacetime. At war's end, women were encouraged to return to traditional work patterns and ways of life. However, the long-term consequences of women's war work have been substantial.

Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War of 1898 was a relatively short war, lasting only three months. Yet this brief war propelled the United States into the position of a great world power. Despite its global significance, the impact of this war on the American home front was negligible. Casualty rates were low, rationing was unnecessary, shortages did not exist...