Clara Barton faced numerous struggles while establishing the American Red Cross, including resistance to her ideas and the challenges of funding her humanitarian mission. During the Civil War, Barton worked tirelessly to provide food and medical care to soldiers, which laid the foundation for her later work. She encountered societal barriers as a woman and faced skepticism regarding her initiatives. Despite these challenges, her relentless advocacy for disaster relief and health care led to the eventual acceptance and growth of the organization, significantly impacting humanitarian efforts in the United States.