How did women contribute to the war effort, both on the battlefield and at home? Objective 1. Name four roles that women had during the Civil War. 2. Describe four contributions women made to the war effort. 3. Explain three difficulties women faced during the Civil War. Background During the Civil War women played an important role both on the battlefield and on the home front. They helped after battles as nurses, ran businesses and farms and worked in munitions factories while their fathers and brothers were off at war. They supported the war effort by contributing to organizations like the Duration: 60 Minutes.