chapter_22_section_3_notes.ppt | |
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A Brief Draft History
The first draft was established (1863) during the U.S. Civil War. The law authorized release from service to anyone who provided a substitute and to those who paid $300 (which was a lot of $$$ back then).
A general draft was reintroduced in World War I with the Selective Service Act of 1917. All men from 21 to 30 years of age (later extended 18 to 45) had to register. Exemptions from service were granted to men who had dependent families, "special types of jobs" at home, or physical disabilities. Conscientious objector status was granted to members of pacifist religious organizations, but they had to perform alternative service. Other war objectors were imprisoned, where several died. 2.8 million men were drafted over the course of World War I.
The United States first adopted peacetime conscription with the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. The act provided that not more than 900,000 men were to be in training at any one time, and it limited service to between 12 and 18 months. After the United States entered World War II in December of 1941, the new selective service act made men between 18 and 45 liable for military service and required all men between 18 and 65 to register. From 1940 until 1947, over 10 million men were drafted. A new selective service act was passed in 1948 that required all men between 18 and 26 to register and that made men from 19 to 26 liable to be drafted for 21 months of service, which would be followed by 5 years of reserve duty.
When the Korean War broke out, the 1948 law was replaced (1951) by the Universal Military Training and Service Act. The length of service was extended to 24 months. The main purpose of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955 was to strengthen the reserve forces and the National Guard. It required six years of duty, including both reserve and active duty.
During Vietnam, the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 required all men between the ages of 18 and 26 to register for service. If selected, each person was required to serve for a minimum of 1 year before being released from their responsibility (unless they decided to voluntarily reenlist). All kinds of exemptions and educational deferments were granted to various men. These loopholes and other technicalities tended to discriminate against working-class and poor men (who didn't have as many ways to get out of having to go), and thus a higher percentage from these groups were drafted.
Due to this perceived discrimination by class and also because of the great unpopularity of the Vietnam War, the draft became a major social issue. There were numerous demonstrations at draft boards and induction centers. By 1969, almost all of the loopholes were eliminated and the draft became based on a straight lottery (365 capsules drawn... each with a different date of the year).
Many young men evaded the draft through technicalities or fraud; thousands fled the country or went to prison. In 1973, the draft was abolished in favor of an all-volunteer army. President Gerald R. Ford granted clemency to many draft resisters in 1974, and President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to draft resisters in 1977.
In 1980, Congress reinstituted draft registration for men 18 to 25 years old. This is still in effect today!!! If there were to be a crisis, registered men would be drafted as determined by age and a random lottery.
For more information about how the Selective Service System currently works and how to register, click here
A general draft was reintroduced in World War I with the Selective Service Act of 1917. All men from 21 to 30 years of age (later extended 18 to 45) had to register. Exemptions from service were granted to men who had dependent families, "special types of jobs" at home, or physical disabilities. Conscientious objector status was granted to members of pacifist religious organizations, but they had to perform alternative service. Other war objectors were imprisoned, where several died. 2.8 million men were drafted over the course of World War I.
The United States first adopted peacetime conscription with the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. The act provided that not more than 900,000 men were to be in training at any one time, and it limited service to between 12 and 18 months. After the United States entered World War II in December of 1941, the new selective service act made men between 18 and 45 liable for military service and required all men between 18 and 65 to register. From 1940 until 1947, over 10 million men were drafted. A new selective service act was passed in 1948 that required all men between 18 and 26 to register and that made men from 19 to 26 liable to be drafted for 21 months of service, which would be followed by 5 years of reserve duty.
When the Korean War broke out, the 1948 law was replaced (1951) by the Universal Military Training and Service Act. The length of service was extended to 24 months. The main purpose of the Reserve Forces Act of 1955 was to strengthen the reserve forces and the National Guard. It required six years of duty, including both reserve and active duty.
During Vietnam, the Military Selective Service Act of 1967 required all men between the ages of 18 and 26 to register for service. If selected, each person was required to serve for a minimum of 1 year before being released from their responsibility (unless they decided to voluntarily reenlist). All kinds of exemptions and educational deferments were granted to various men. These loopholes and other technicalities tended to discriminate against working-class and poor men (who didn't have as many ways to get out of having to go), and thus a higher percentage from these groups were drafted.
Due to this perceived discrimination by class and also because of the great unpopularity of the Vietnam War, the draft became a major social issue. There were numerous demonstrations at draft boards and induction centers. By 1969, almost all of the loopholes were eliminated and the draft became based on a straight lottery (365 capsules drawn... each with a different date of the year).
Many young men evaded the draft through technicalities or fraud; thousands fled the country or went to prison. In 1973, the draft was abolished in favor of an all-volunteer army. President Gerald R. Ford granted clemency to many draft resisters in 1974, and President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to draft resisters in 1977.
In 1980, Congress reinstituted draft registration for men 18 to 25 years old. This is still in effect today!!! If there were to be a crisis, registered men would be drafted as determined by age and a random lottery.
For more information about how the Selective Service System currently works and how to register, click here
Clip summarizing the Vietnam Draft
Clip Covering Anti-War Movement
This 6:30 clip begins with Lyndon Johnson getting elected in 1964, his Great Society Programs, and belief that it was important for the U.S. to be strong in Vietnam. It discusses the emergence of the anti-war movement as the war goes on and the increasing credibility gap (govt. reports of progress and high death counts for the enemy vs. how troops morale started getting really low) before 1968. Finally, it talks about how the war caused the Great Society to get cut as cost for the war increased... along with part of an anti-war speech from MLK Jr.
More MLK speaking out on war.
show the first minute and 50 seconds to go along with the part on the video about from 3:50 to 4:50
Muhammad Ali on Vietnam
minute long segment on why Ali wouldn't go to Vietnam
Muhammad Ali - details on what happened to him during Vietnam
About 3 minutes. Conscientious Objector, stripped of championship and banned from boxing, and his battle to stay out of jail
Women in Vietnam
7 minutes long... with music. Explains women's contribution to the war effort.