Final answer:
The statement 'a rich man's war but a poor man's fight' refers to how the poor majorly fought the Civil War while the rich and powerful controlled it. The rich could avoid fighting by hiring substitutes strategically using their wealth and influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'a rich man's war but a poor man's fight' refers to the Civil War era where the wealthy were able to wield influence and shape the course of the war, while the poor had little choice but to join the fight. This was because the rich possessed the financial resources to avoid front-line service. Both the Union and Confederate governments allowed wealthy individuals to hire substitutes to go to war in their place. Therefore, the poor ended up doing the majority of the fighting.
Meanwhile, the wealthy and those in power controlled warfare strategy, legislation, and political decisions. They funded the war, deciding whether the war would continue or end. The rich folks on both sides could manipulate the war to their advantage by leveraging their wealth and political connections. Thus, their influence went beyond just avoiding the fight to controlling the war direction.
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