Question

question 3 of 10

which statement best illustrates how elizabeth van lew was able to organize a spy ring?

a. she recruited volunteers from among the union prisoners held at libby prison.
b. she recruited other unionists, including government clerks and richmond socialites.
c. she asked free black people to pose as enslaved servants in confederate leaders households.
d. she hired former confederate soldiers to gather information from various battlefields.

Explanation:

Identify the historical context

Elizabeth Van Lew was a prominent Union spy based in Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. As a wealthy resident of the Confederate capital, she secretly remained loyal to the Union, a prominent example of Southern Unionism.

Analyze her espionage methods

To build her highly effective spy network (the Richmond Underground), Van Lew relied on her high social standing and connections. She recruited a diverse group of local Union sympathizers, including Richmond socialites, business owners, and Confederate government clerks who had access to official documents.

Evaluate the given options

• A is incorrect because while she visited Libby Prison to aid Union soldiers, she did not recruit active prisoners to run an external spy ring.
• B is correct because she successfully mobilized local Unionists, including clerks and socialites, to gather and pass intelligence.
• C is incorrect because she placed Mary Bowser (a free Black woman who pretended to be an enslaved servant) in Jefferson Davis's home, but she did not ask free Black people generally to pose as enslaved servants across households.
• D is incorrect because she did not hire former Confederate soldiers for battlefield intelligence.

Relate to known concepts

Using her position as a prominent figure, she leveraged Women in the Civil War espionage tactics and tapped into local Southern Unionism networks to organize her spy ring.

Answer:

• (A) She recruited volunteers from among the Union prisoners held at Libby Prison.
• (B) She recruited other Unionists, including government clerks and Richmond socialites. (Correct answer)
• (C) She asked free Black people to pose as enslaved servants in Confederate leaders' households.
• (D) She hired former Confederate soldiers to gather information from various battlefields.