Okla-homey
3/3/2006, 07:12 AM
March 3, 1863 Congress passes Civil War conscription act
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9546/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz12.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Civil War era draft notice. if you got one of these, you were headed "to see the elephant"
On this day 143 years ago, the U.S. Congress passes a conscription act that produces the first wartime draft of U.S. citizens in American history. The Civil War had been raging for almost two years. Volunteers were'nt springing forth as they had when the war began and original volunteer enlistments were lapsing with many refusing to re-enlist.
The act called for registration of all males between the ages of 20 and 45, including aliens with the intention of becoming citizens, by April 1. Exemptions from the draft could be bought for $300 or by finding a substitute draftee.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9853/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz14.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Example of document draftee used to inform authorities he had found a substitute, thus avoiding the draft. As you might imagine, this became big business. Unsavory characters agreed to serve as substitutes after payment of a bribe by the draftee, then these "substitutes" usually failed to turn up for induction. There are many examples of "substitutes" pulling this scam multiple times.
This substitute clause, particularly the part that a draftee could buy his way out of induction for the then princely sum of $300 led to the July 1863 bloody draft riots in New York City. The rioters were outraged that exemptions were effectively granted only to the wealthiest U.S. citizens.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8339/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz15.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
NYC draft riot. Notice the looting of Brooks Bros.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9833/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzdraf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Another image of the 1863 NYC draft riot. The riot was finally put down when Union army regiments who had recently fought at Gettysburg were shipped in. As you might imagine, those guys didn't have much sympathy for draft-dodgers.
Although the Civil War saw the first compulsory conscription of U.S. citizens for wartime service, a 1792 act by Congress required that all able-bodied male citizens purchase a gun and join their local state militia. However, there was no penalty for noncompliance with this act.
Congress also passed a conscription act during the War of 1812, but the war ended before it was enacted. During the Civil War, the government of the Confederate States of America also enacted a compulsory military draft.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1267/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz13.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
WWII era placard reminding draft eligible men to register
The U.S. enacted a military draft again during World War I, in 1940 to make the U.S. ready for its involvement World War II, and during the Korean War. The last U.S. military draft occurred during the Vietnam War.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9853/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz14.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Viet Nam era draft notice. If you passed the physical, you were in.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1727/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Viet nam era draft was rather unpopular
To this day, 18 year old males are still required to register for the draft. As an aside, your correspondent finds it interesting that feminists have never attacked this facially sexist law. :eek:
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2008/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz5.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9050/insane7zo8ag.jpg
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9546/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz12.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Civil War era draft notice. if you got one of these, you were headed "to see the elephant"
On this day 143 years ago, the U.S. Congress passes a conscription act that produces the first wartime draft of U.S. citizens in American history. The Civil War had been raging for almost two years. Volunteers were'nt springing forth as they had when the war began and original volunteer enlistments were lapsing with many refusing to re-enlist.
The act called for registration of all males between the ages of 20 and 45, including aliens with the intention of becoming citizens, by April 1. Exemptions from the draft could be bought for $300 or by finding a substitute draftee.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9853/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz14.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Example of document draftee used to inform authorities he had found a substitute, thus avoiding the draft. As you might imagine, this became big business. Unsavory characters agreed to serve as substitutes after payment of a bribe by the draftee, then these "substitutes" usually failed to turn up for induction. There are many examples of "substitutes" pulling this scam multiple times.
This substitute clause, particularly the part that a draftee could buy his way out of induction for the then princely sum of $300 led to the July 1863 bloody draft riots in New York City. The rioters were outraged that exemptions were effectively granted only to the wealthiest U.S. citizens.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8339/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz15.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
NYC draft riot. Notice the looting of Brooks Bros.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9833/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzdraf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Another image of the 1863 NYC draft riot. The riot was finally put down when Union army regiments who had recently fought at Gettysburg were shipped in. As you might imagine, those guys didn't have much sympathy for draft-dodgers.
Although the Civil War saw the first compulsory conscription of U.S. citizens for wartime service, a 1792 act by Congress required that all able-bodied male citizens purchase a gun and join their local state militia. However, there was no penalty for noncompliance with this act.
Congress also passed a conscription act during the War of 1812, but the war ended before it was enacted. During the Civil War, the government of the Confederate States of America also enacted a compulsory military draft.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1267/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz13.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
WWII era placard reminding draft eligible men to register
The U.S. enacted a military draft again during World War I, in 1940 to make the U.S. ready for its involvement World War II, and during the Korean War. The last U.S. military draft occurred during the Vietnam War.
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9853/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz14.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Viet Nam era draft notice. If you passed the physical, you were in.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/1727/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The Viet nam era draft was rather unpopular
To this day, 18 year old males are still required to register for the draft. As an aside, your correspondent finds it interesting that feminists have never attacked this facially sexist law. :eek:
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2008/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz5.png (http://imageshack.us)
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9050/insane7zo8ag.jpg