Question 4: What were the conditions for prisoners at Andersonville (make sure to discuss crowding, disease and food and water supply)
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Question 5: What caused the tragic conditions at Andersonville prisoner of war camp during the Civil War?
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Question 4: At Andersonville Prison during the Civil War, the conditions for prisoners were incredibly harsh. There was severe overcrowding, with the camp designed to hold around 10,000 prisoners but ultimately housing over 30,000 at its peak. This overcrowding led to cramped living conditions, with prisoners having very little space to move around and inadequate shelter. Sanitary conditions were deplorable, with a lack of proper sanitation and a limited number of latrines causing the spread of diseases such as dysentery and scurvy. The prisoners suffered from malnutrition due to the insufficient food supply, which consisted mostly of cornbread and occasionally rotten meat. Additionally, the camp suffered from a lack of clean water, and the prisoners were forced to drink from a contaminated creek or use the same water for bathing and washing.
Question 5: Several factors contributed to the tragic conditions at Andersonville prisoner of war camp. The primary cause was the overwhelming number of prisoners received at the camp. Andersonville was initially constructed to hold around 10,000 prisoners, but it quickly became overcrowded, leading to severe strain on the resources and infrastructure. The Confederacy, already facing challenges in supplying its own armies, struggled to provide proper food, shelter, and healthcare for the prisoners. Additionally, the Confederate authorities in charge of the camp, including Commandant Henry Wirz, failed to adequately manage and address the dire conditions. This lack of effective leadership and administration further exacerbated the tragic conditions at Andersonville.