Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The us draft history
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Also known as conscription, the draft is a system for selecting young men for compulsory military service, administered in the United States by the Selective Service System (“Draft”). In 1973, the last draft that the United States administered came to a close. Since then, there has been debates on whether the country should institute it again. Many civilians do not know enough about it to make educated opinions on the matter. Although the draft may seem like a confusing and or scary operation, it is very organized and set up in a professional manner. Conscription has been used two times before in United States history. On September 16, 1940, the United States instituted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which required all men …show more content…
Beginning with the cons, the military draft can take away precious time from the youth considering they are drafted so young. However, not all of them are on the younger side leaving some with families that could be corrupted if sent away. Continuing on, not all drafted soldiers are as competent as professional soldiers that went through training after they volunteered. This leads to questioning why the government should be spending more money on compulsory service. Overall, people on the opposing side of the draft believe it is one of the ways to strengthen the military that should be avoided (“List of 12 Key Pros and Cons of Military Draft”). Progressing into the pro side of things, the draft would assure national security. The country would be safer since there would be enough jobs, reducing unemployment. Not only that but being in the military is creates equality and diversity, is contributory to building character, and a great way to travel and learn new cultures. Also, politically, politicians with children who’d be included in a military draft would most likely create less of a chance for abrupt decisions in getting into war (“List of 12 Key Pros and Cons of Military Draft”). As described, one can see the difficulty in the decision that the government has on their
In the year 1944, US Legislation passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment act, commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights. It is one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the federal government; one that impacted the United States socially, economically and politically. The GI Bill offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including financial assistance for higher education for veterans of U.S. military service. The benefits of the GI Bill are intended to help veterans readjust to civilian life following service to their country and to encourage bright, motivated men and women to volunteer for military duty. Many factors and contributions have gone into the development of the GI Bill, and it has changed over the years. This research paper will introduce the reader to a brief history of the formation and evolution of the GI Bill, discuss the current benefits that it offers to student populations in response to their specific needs, and introduce current implications that the GI Bill has placed on student veterans and institutions across the nation.
On August 7th 1964 the United States Congress passed into law the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which, for all intents and purposes, officially brought the United States into the Vietnam War. Following this resolution, a draft was instated to increase the number of men that could be sent to war. Shortly after men started to be signed into conscription for the United States Military, a public outcry started over the use of a draft to increase military size. The draft was found to be unfair to American Citizens because certain groups of men were severely disadvantaged, the draft was illegal in many ways, and veteran’s future lives were harmed, among other reasons.
Many people in the 1960s and early 1970s did not understand why the United States was involved in the Vietnam War. Therefore, they had no desire to be a part of it. The Selective Service System, which was used to conduct the draft, had aspirations of directing people into areas where they were most needed during wartime. However, people took advantage of the draft system’s deferment policies to avoid going to war. Others refused induction or simply did not register. There were also people who left the country to escape the draft. The Vietnam War proved to be an event that many Americans did not agree with, and as a result, citizens took action to elude the draft entirely or to beat the draft system.
Over forty years has passed since the United States inducted the last draftee through the Selective Service System. The Selective Service System is an independent agency of the United States, which gives the President the right or power to conscript men for military service. There have been different Acts passed by congress since 1917 that require men of various ages to register for service. Although, the name of each Act and the age requirements of the registries changed, the Acts were all similar in nature. They all gave the President the right to call men to war when he deemed necessary. In January 1973, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announced the creation of the all-volunteer service, retracting the need for the draft (GAO.gov). Under current law, all men between the ages of 18-25 must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, however this information is used mostly for recruitment purposes and in case of any future crisis. There has been much controversy over this matter since the Vietnam War, when people started to realize the draft was unfair due to loopholes and draft exemptions making the draft unfair for working men. At one point in time the military draft may have been necessary, but today’s all-volunteer military has eliminated the need for a draft.
In the month of April of 1862, the government issued the first draft of the Civil War. Throughout the war, they put out drafts because so many men were needed to fight. Citizens were expected to obey these orders, and as the war progressed, it was harder and harder for men to avoid fighting for their country. Towards the end, the government began forcing almost every able man to enlist in the army. Men of ages 17-50 were drafted in the South (20-45 in the North); bodies were needed. And the government made sure that they got what they needed.
An accountant might not be very great at shooting an aiming, but he will help the government budget the money to purchase more guns and weapons. Then again, a renound marksman would be better in combat, or even someone who went to a state shooting event and won over the whole state. Any one in shooting sports in fact! They'd be good at aiming and hitting. Someone with people skills could communicate for the army, but maybe she can't do the technical stuff of getting radio signals enough to make the phone calls and emails. The draft eliminates the ability for Americans to choose, and they are forced to serve in the military, when if they had a choice they might pick something still very helpful, but not dangerous or completely obnoxious for them. By reinstating the draft the government would kill the freedom of choice, everyone has a relatable skill set that could in some way benefit the government or military. So if the draft did come back, maybe they could change it so you can pick which job you'd like to train
If there was a draft, there would be a lot more men and women out there fighting to keep our country safe so that we can continue to lay down at night and not be afraid of what might happen to us when we do. Our military is strong, but if there was a specific number of men joining every year or so, our numbers would be higher, therefore increasing our strength. Being in the military is something to be proud of, and those that join on their own are good people, but anyone that goes out and fights, draft or not, is still a good person and should have our respect. Most people see commercials on television about the armed forces and think that it might be a good thing to go do, I know I have, but some might not put any more work into it after they see it the first time. Having a draft would get rid of that part of them that doesn’t want to get up off the couch and
People who support the military draft will say that it is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 42, to perform a period of national service. Aren?t there many other ways--less deadly ways--to contribute to the country?s well being? Should we, as citizens, be allowed to evade this ultimate obligation by turning it over to the poorer members of society, those who can't find good-paying jobs or training except in the military? In "A War for Us, Fought by Them," William Broyles, a Vietnam war veteran and the father of a young man who is a soldier in the Marines, argues that the military draft should be brought back, and this time it should be done right: everybody should be drafted, not just ?the profoundly patriotic or the economically needy" (Broyles 695).
Generally, reinstating the Constitutional draft would solidify the meaning of being an American citizen. Often, wealthier and more privileged people are able to ask for exemption from serving, which makes representation of soldiers in combat composed of less-privileged citizens. With compulsory conscription, all American citizens, men or women, ages 18-26 are subject to be recruited for the armed forces. In fact, only 4 members of the 107th Congress who voted in favor of the Iraq war had children serving there. Politicians would know how it feels to have loved ones in a war, instead of freely speaking about wartime without experiencing it in any way.1 Moreover, Americans feel that public support for war in foreign countries is not strong because the soldiers fighting are p...
Tim O’Brien, a famous author, once stated, “I hated the draft, but at the same time, it’s something that made every American take war seriously” (BrainyQuote). This quote brings light on the fact that not everyone favored the war, although it ultimately opened the eyes of the people on the fact of how detrimental war really was, especially the Vietnam War. The draft is a government ran lottery type system to help solve conflict on who would serve during times of crisis. The draft should not have been made as it caused fear, high death rates and caused families to break apart. Why the draft was formed, how people avoided it and if it is still around today will be the topics used in proving that the draft should not have been used.
Now, the U.S. military consists entirely of volunteer soldiers, and the draft has been discontinued, though while being discontinued, Government requests that all citizens sign for national service when they come of age to enlist. In common vernacular this means that government wants all citizens to sign what is essentially a draft form when our draft has been disbanded; this legal document will force some citizens to work for the government in a way remarkably similar to the draft. (Hasbrouck)
There is a huge controversy of whether or not the draft should be reinstated. When saying "the draft" that means drafting random citizens of the United States to fight in the war. There are advantages and disadvantages to reinstating a draft. The last time the United States had an official draft was during the Vietnam War. There were also advantages and disadvantages to having a draft then. One might say the draft is a good idea because a draft gets more bodies out to fight war and more people a country fighting the better likelihood the United States will have to winning the war. One might also say that the war in Afghanistan isn't big enough for there to be need of a draft. Reinstating the draft is a big controversy that comes up every time The United States is fighting a war and there will always be people that will be for and against a draft; but there will also be reasons to either have or go without a draft.
I am writing to you so share with you my reasons for not being conscripted to serve in the Vietnam War and why I don’t believe in conscription. I would like to explain my reasons for not wanting to be conscripted, I hope you take these reasons into serious consideration and understand why I am standing by my thoughts.
A draft is a form of a social obligations that is just not an ordinary obligation, but it is a legal one. The government is behind it which means that the government has the right to draft you into war whether you agree with it or not. In The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien was trapped between the sword and the wall on the decision of going to war or escaping the draft by going to Canada. He had to choose whether or not to risk his life for the sake of his country and family. Throughout the chapter entitled “On the Rainy River” Tim O’Brien tells us the readers how hard was for him to make a decision of whether to go or not. Tim O’Brien puts us on his position by asking rhetorical questions such as “What would you do?” “Would
The US dropped the draft system in 1973. Americans born within a certain date were put into the draft, and if their name was drawn they would have to report to the US Armed Forces. I guess you could call it a lottery that is against your own will.