Chapter 5 Zinn

Throughout chapter five, it discusses the differences in social class, and depending basically on race and wealth it was decided your roll in the war. White men had the biggest advantage of all, but even white farmers who were in debt that went to war to get out of it weren't helped. Because white farmers were less wealthy, they took bigger parts in battles, and usually ended up in debt anyway when they returned home. White men who fought in the war were usually there because of their status in it, and wanted to oppress the people in poverty. This left the battling and sacrificing up to the poor who were just looking for a way out. Black people weren't allowed to join the army unless they were in the North. Indians, women, and black people had no say in anything when it came to the colonies, especially when it came time to write the constitution. The war was global, and it didn't change anything for those who needed it, it just helped and influenced the white men.