Embalming became a common practice in the U.S. during which historical conflict?

The American Civil War is recognized as the historical conflict during which embalming became a common practice in the United States. The war, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, resulted in a significant number of fatalities and left many soldiers far from their homes. The necessity to preserve bodies for transportation back to their families led to the development and proliferation of embalming techniques.

Prior to this period, embalming was not widely practiced, but the sheer scale of death and the desire to give soldiers a proper burial spurred advancements in the art and science of embalming. This increased public awareness of and demand for embalming services ultimately led to the establishment of funeral services as we know them today.

In contrast, while other conflicts like World War II and the Vietnam War had their own impacts on funerary practices, they did not see the same level of demand for embalming due to the advancements in transportation and mortuary practices that had already been established by the time those wars occurred. The American Revolutionary War also did not involve the same techniques or widespread use of embalming as seen during the American Civil War.