The term was already around in 1861, but its use became much more frequent during the war. In the North, a huckster or a shyster was a person who squeezed profit out of people who might, on a good day, be able to afford it. In the South, a huckster was viewed about the same as an enemy. Whoever they were—most of their names have not survived—the hucksters attempted to corner the market on a certain commodity, sugar for example, and drive the price sky-high.