How did the Red Cross get started in the United States?
A. In Europe in 1862, Swiss Citizen Jean Henry Dunant published A Memory of Solferino, describing the suffering and devestation of an 1859 battle in Italy and how he tried to help the thousands of wounded. He urged the creation of a war relief society. His writing inspired nations to unite and organize the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. His work laid the groundwork for an international humanitarian agreement known as the Geneva Convention in 1863 and the resulting system of national relief societies now known as The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (ICRC). In America, citizens had learned first hand the ravages of war during the civil war, in particular a volunteer nurse named Clara Barton. Following the war, Clara went on a trip to Europe where she learned of the great work being done by the ICRC and became determined to establish such an organization for the alleviation of human suffering in the United States, as well. It took several years but she successfull
