Ever since America established itself as an independent country, there has consistently been a need for soldiers to fight in the many wars that the country has found itself involved in. This need has made conscription a very common aspect during wartime in America. The draft was first introduced to the USA during the Civil War, in which both the Confederate and Union Armies forced men to fight in the military. Later on in history, the draft became a seriously debated topic during both World War One and the Vietnam War. Many people felt the draft was an infringement on people’s civil liberties and should be discontinued while some people felt conscription was necessary for the future survival of America. The draft was finally discontinued after …show more content…
The first instances of unrest occurred after Lincoln instated conscription in the North during the civil war because the army needed more manpower in order to fight the Confederacy. In July of 1863, large groups of immigrants swarmed in New York City in an effort to protest the draft . The lower class resented the part of the draft law that allowed wealthy men to pay three hundred dollars to avoid fighting in the war altogether. The cry of these protesters was heard throughout out the streets as they voiced their oppositions, shouting about the fact that it was “a rich man’s war, but a poor man’s fight.” These riots lasted about four days before the Army of the Potomac restored order. During World War One the draft was protested in a much more passive way, as many men chose to apply for exemptions or just refuse to register at all. This led to about sixteen thousand men getting arrested in New York City in 1918 for failing to register or report to the draft office. Although there was much contempt towards the draft during this war, the patriotism was very heightened at this time period so less than four hundred thousand men dodged the draft, leading to the draft being considered overall …show more content…
This is because conscription is historically unequal, proving to favor Caucasians and the upper class since the era of the Civil War. During this era, in both the Confederacy and the Union had multiple ways to legally avoid the draft. These methods included, paying three hundred dollars or hiring someone to go in their place. As well as this clear form of class discrimination, because only wealthy people could afford this practice, the military also didn’t draft people with important jobs. These included professions like civil officials, telegraph operators, miners, druggists, and teachers; essentially any form of work that was needed to keep society in tact for when the war was over. This proved to be unfair as well, because very impoverished people and families usually were unemployed or had a less important profession in the eyes of the government. Later on, the draft allowed men with twenty or more slaves to automatically be exempt from the draft, again making it so there would be a disproportionate amount of upper class and rich men fighting in the
Ever since the dawn of Republic, the American public grappled with the issue of the military draft. During the American Revolution, the Continental Army struggled to recruit men and enticed the potential soldiers with the lure of the free land or cash incentives. George Washington proposed to institute the draft, however, the Congress rejected his idea. The Civil War, the deadliest of the American armed conflicts, compelled the both warring sides to enact the conscription. The South instituted their draft in 1892, and the North followed with The Draft Act of 1863.
This was the first time there was a law requiring people to fight. This put all male citizens susceptible to getting drafting. To avoid drafting, the rich were able to give a year 's worth of pay instead of going to war. Some people even injured themselves so they would be unable to fight. For example, many men who knew they were going to get drafted would purposefully knock out their teeth so they wouldn
Therefore, orders from the government were a reaction of how the people reacted toward how the government was using conscription while there was a declared war, undeclared war, during times of peace. The way America views conscription is derived from countries such as France. The system in France allowed the country to increase the military force by having a mandatory military
This draft came as an alternative, another fallback for the United States. Also, the draft was done fair, there was no need for citizens to get upset and take the draft away if it is done in an equitable fashion.
Not all men went to fight. The drafts were typically for men eighteen through twenty five. Drafts required men of certain ages to enroll in the war (Ballard). The people that stayed back were called townspeople. Durring Battle of Vicksburg the town was besieged, or surrounded by Grants forces for foty days.
While some may argue that draft dodging was unpatriotic, I believe it was a valid form of protest against an unjust war. It was also a moral obligation
From the beginning of the United States’ history, conflict has always been prevalent. The need for armed forces continually grows, especially in times of war, as the fight for freedom becomes more challenging. Conscription, better known as the draft, was first introduced during the Civil War as a way to get more individuals involved in the military to fill vacant positions. The practice of the draft was finally discontinued in favor of an all-volunteer military system, when the need for troops was no longer necessary. After almost two decades of being involved overseas, the demand for armed troops is imperative once again.
While some were patriotic and wanted to help to fight for their country, others thought it was a waste of lives and that war was stupid. Among the people who went to war, many of them fought and returned home. Some strongly believed that conscription was needed in order to maintain full strength on the battlefields. One of the main reason that triggered conscription was that
During the American Civil War in 1863, Congress passed a law which made all men between the ages of 20 and 45 responsible for service in the military. Their attempt to enforce this draft triggered a disastrous disturbance in New York City. Many innocent African Americans were killed and their homes were taken away from them. The draft riots were the deadliest riots in America, and they had many causes and effects.
Throughout history, countries are inevitably pulled into conflicts that result in war. These conflicts usually occur because of interests in: economic gain, territorial gain, religion, and nationalism. America, like every country, needs a military to defend itself, especially when tensions arise in other parts of the world and when militia numbers start to decrease. This then allows the government to draft its population to serve in the military. People argue that young men and women’s bright lives are often cut short, and not allowed their Constitutional right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”, but there are many benefits for the nation and the individual by serving one’s country.
“The Draft,” as it is commonly referred to, was enacted in September of 1940. Even though the United States was not yet involved in World War II when the act was passed, President Roosevelt regarded it as a vital method of training American men for military service. By 1940, tensions between the United States and Germany were rising as the Nazis had invaded numerous European countries and the news of concentration camps was spreading. Throughout July of 1940, England was the next country to face Nazi aggression, as they faced attacks from the German airforce and navy. With fears that America would be the next country to face a German invasion, Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act, also proclaiming, “America stands
Instilling responsibility, pride, and love for the country are just a few of the pros of reinstating this draft. Also, repaying the debts that others and their families have gone through in order for the country to be in the state it is today. There are so many benefits that it is easy to look over any hiccups that may happen along the way. Even if we did reinstate the draft, there could be different aspects to it that fit today’s standards and what goes on in this country and the world in modern days, in comparison to the first drafts. Overall, reinstating the draft is a great idea for the United
It would be horrible for a husband to be yanked from his wife and kids, then to find out he died fighting in a war he didn’t even sign up for. If a man has children, or his wife is expecting, he should be exempted. Some would argue that the mandatory draft was necessary, that “the U.S. military must remain prepared to fight a really big war that might require a much larger force” (Barno/Bensahel). To protect against that, there would be safeguards put into the mandatory draft. If the amount of soldiers in the military by volunteer dropped to a point that was too low to fight, the protections such as college and family, would be stripped, and the age range upped from 18-25 to 18-30.
Conscription, also known as drafting, is a law that the government made for people to go to war. This law stated that anyone who was old enough and was able to fight in the war had to go, whether they wanted to go or not. People thought conscription was very beneficial, I on the other hand disagree. Personally, I do not think conscription is a good idea. It is unfair to force people to go to war, by forcing men to enlist in the army, the army force will not be as strong as it could be, and if conscription occurs, there’s an emotional toll to fighting.
Previous conscription implementations have been proved to be devastating to its nations. The economy depends on the workers and cannot possibly be maintained if many of said workers are drafted into the military. Civil liberties must always be prioritized over national security in the United States because that is what the nation was built upon. Lastly with all the other alternatives present there is no need for a military conscription to occur. Overall a mandatory military conscription in the United States clearly should not be an event in that arises in the foreseeable future due to previous conscription efforts, possible economic effects, the infringement of civil liberties, and other