Why did some people call the Civil war a rich man's war and a poor man's fight?

The phrase "a rich man's war and a poor man's fight" reflects the idea that the Civil War was instigated by the interests of the wealthy elite, particularly in the South, who sought to preserve their economic system based on slavery. However, it was often the poorer individuals who were drafted to fight in the war, as wealthier citizens could afford to pay for substitutes or avoid conscription altogether. This disparity highlighted the socioeconomic inequalities of the time, where the burdens of war disproportionately fell on the less affluent. Thus, while the rich benefited from the war’s outcomes, it was primarily the poor who faced the consequences on the battlefield.