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In a time when military pensions were a large part of the federal budget, Black women faced unique challenges in securing compensation. Widows of Civil War soldiers could begin applying to the Bureau of Pensions during the war, and one of the first major obstacles for Black women who had survived slavery was the bureau's marriage requirement. Women needed to prove they had been married to their deceased husbands to receive survivor benefits. However, because enslaved men and women hadn't been legally able to marry, the Bureau of Pensions didn't initially recognize their unions.
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bureau of pensions didn't initially recognize their marriages, widows of civil war soldiers, applying to the bureau of pensions during the war, first major obstacles for black women who had survived slavery was the bureau's marriage requirement, civil war african american soldiers, civil war economy, pensions
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- Knovation Readability Score: 5 (1 low difficulty, 5 high difficulty)