# ## spiritualism rose in popularity after the American Civil War > [!zettel] > - keywords:: [[Civil War]], [[Spiritualism]] > - location:: [[United States]] > - period:: [[1860s]], [[1870s]] - [[Girl Talk with the Dead! (Ask a Mortician)]] - Prior to the [[Civil War]], the concept of the "good death" » die at home, surrounded by loved ones - In contrast, the Civil War was the opposite of the "good death" » families not knowing if loved ones died, or where/how - Post [[Civil War]], this gave rise to spiritualism as a means for comfort and answers - At the same time, increase in science - Making the invisible » x-rays, germ theory, elecricity, photography, telephones, moving images - …so, spirit photography became a thing. --- related:: [[spiritualism rose in popularity after World War I]] related:: [[spiritualism rose in popularity after World War II]]