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What is meant by a Rich Man's War and a Poor Man's Fight in regards to the Civil War?

User D R
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Final answer:

The term 'Rich Man's War and Poor Man's Fight' refers to the perception that the American Civil War was primarily fought by poor men on behalf of the wealthy elite.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term 'Rich Man's War and Poor Man's Fight' refers to the perception that the American Civil War was primarily fought by poor men on behalf of the wealthy elite. The majority of soldiers who fought for the Confederacy did not own slaves and had no direct stake in the institution of slavery. Instead, they were motivated by a sense of loyalty to their fellow soldiers and a belief in the values of liberty and freedom. On the other hand, the planters and wealthy elite in the South, who did own slaves and had a vested interest in the preservation of slavery, were able to avoid military service through a variety of means such as hiring substitutes or obtaining exemptions. This disparity in the burden of fighting the war led to the perception that it was a 'Rich Man's War and Poor Man's Fight.'

User Naren Chejara
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