The Military Draft is Against the US Constitution

1328 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: military conscription pro essay

The Military Draft is Against the US Constitution

The military draft has been a controversial topic for many years in American society. The idea of a military draft has drastically changed between World War II and the Vietnam War. During the times of World War II, military service and draft was widely accepted by many Americans. During the World War II era, citizens felt that they had an “unlimited liability to perform military service when required by the state” (James 2). But as time progressed, military service and draft in the Vietnam War, constructed many doubts amongst many Americans. The U.S. draft is controversial between many Americans opinions because of its unfairness.

What is a draft and what happens in a draft? First of all a draft occurs only when there is a national crisis, a crisis which requires more troops than the volunteer military can supply (Veterans for Peace). This requires a joint effort between the congress and the president. The president must sign a legislation put forward by congress to initiate the draft (Veterans for Peace). Once this legislation is put into effect a lottery based on birthdays determines the order in which registered men are called up by Selective Service (Veterans for Peace). After this, all parts of Selective Service are activated. This means that all state directors and reserve force officers are to report for duty (Veterans for Peace). The next step, which is crucial, is to weed out those who are physically, mentally, and morally unfit for war. This evaluation is conducted by the Military Entrance Processing Station which determines whether they are fit for war (Veterans for Peace). Those who pass the military evaluation will receive induction orders, orders to...

... middle of paper ...

...Furthermore, people should not be forced to jeopardize their future and their life for something that they don’t agree in.

Works Cited

Baker, Kevin. “The Case for the Draft.” American Heritage June 2003. Academic Search

Premier. Ebsco. Roesch Library, Dayton. 11 Nov. 2003 .

Burk, James. “The Military Obligation of Citizens Since Vietnam.” Parameters: US Army War College June. 2001. Academic Search Premier. Ebsco. Roesch Library, Dayton. 11 Nov.

2003 .

Paul, Ron. “The Military Draft and Slavery.” Counter Punch 24 March. 2002.

.

SoloHQ. 24 Oct. 2003. 23 Nov. 2003 . Keywords: Rights, Initiation of Force

Veterans for Peace. 24 Oct. 2003. 23 Nov. 2003

.

Show More
Related

  • Compare Civil War To The Modern Day

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    serve, were arrested. The draft would lead to protests and riots due to its faults.2

    Read More

  • Against Reinstating the Military Draft

    1512 Words  | 4 Pages

    As Ken Adachi, the editor of ?Educate Yourself,? reports, a new draft will include BOTH men and women. While at various points in history the United States military has operated effectively and efficiently with the draft, reinstating the draft would contradict the ideals of freedom and patriotism that the United States stands for and is supposedly fighting for.

    Read More

  • Was The Draft Unfair?

    1187 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • We Should Not Reinstate the Military Draft

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    I never thought I would say this but I think we should reinstate the draft. It has been years since we have wanted or needed a draft, but in view of the United States being attacked on September 11, 2001, I feel our country must be ready and prepared to defend itself. If being prepared means reinstating the draft, a mandatory summons for military service, then I think we should consider this a reasonable proposal. I think the tragic events of September 11 will evoke most people to agree with me. Since September 11 we have seen a surge of patriotism in this country that seemed hidden for many years. I am so glad patriotism was not lost, and I think most Americans would be willing to defend their country in light of this attack. We are a nation and a people who believe in freedom and democracy. It tells other nations who we are and what we stand for. It is these beliefs that lead me to believe that the people of the United States will do anything to preserve our freedom and democracy even if it means reinstating the draft. I want to prove this notion, but am unsure how to accomplish this. I have not read any recent articles in newspapers or magazines that have dealt with this issue. My textbook was not a source either. So I decided to do two things. First, I went to the Internet for any information, articles, discussions, or statements relating to this issue. Second, I decided to conduct an informal poll. This informal poll consisted of male and female respondents with an age span of eighteen to sixty two. My poll started with classmates in my Western Civilization and Studio Art classes and the professors who instruct these classes. My poll included emailing friends and family who live and work in New York, family currently serving in the Armed Forces, and a family member who is a Veteran of the Viet Nam War. Also included in this poll is a random sampling of the townspeople of Los Alamos. Medical personnel at Los Alamos Women’s Health Services, and the lunch crowd at Café’ Allegro rounded out my poll. This cross section of Americans evoked many feelings and opinions and stimulated many conversations and critical thought. These conversations exhilarated me and the results I obtained amazed me.

    Read More

  • Why I Chose the Selective Service Act and Draft

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    I chose the selective service act and draft for many reasons. One was because during these times many Americans felt that there rights were being taken away because all men between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five, had to register in the military. I see this as taking rights because those who didn’t want to go were either put in jail or charged a big fine for bail of their jail time. That is why I believe that the draft and selective service interfered with Americans rights and responsibilities. Making it a big historical event in which the government inflicted on the rights of all American who participated in these drafts and selective service acts.

    Read More

  • The Vietnam War Draft

    1650 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Military Draft No longer Necessary

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Modern Day Child Labour

    1370 Words  | 3 Pages

    While we, as Americans, are currently living in the most advanced civilization up to this time, we tend to disregard problems of exploitation and injustice to nations of lesser caliber. Luckily, we don't have to worry about the exploitation of ourchildren in factories and sweet shops laboring over machines for countless hours. We, in the United States, would never tolerate such conditions. For us, child labor is a practice that climaxed and phased away during and then after the industrial revolution. In 1998 as we approach the new millenium, child labor cannot still bea reality, or can it? Unfortunately, the employment and exploitation of children inthe work force is still alive and thriving. While this phenomenon is generally confined to third world developing nations, much of the responsibility for its existence falls to economicsuper powers, such as the United States, which supply demand for the cheaply produced goods. While our children are nestled away safely in their beds, other children half way around the world are working away to the hum of machinery well into the night.

    Read More

  • New York City Draft Riots

    1762 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Conscription Act delivered the final straw in the long list of discrepancies, the catalyst that turned that small forest fire into a raging inferno of hate and fear. The white working class (mostly Irish immigrants) were infuriated, they couldn’t understand how they, white, hard-working voters were being punished. The government was forcing them to fight a war they didn’t support and the only way they could avoid it was to pay 300 dollars (a years wages for most), yet they would pay African Americans 1,000 dollars for volunteering. The new federal draft conditions also expanded to include a wider age range of men it would take. “The conscription law targeted men between the ages of 20 and 35, and all unmarried men up to age 45.” Adding to the already high tensions of laborers, since the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation they ...

    Read More

  • The Military Draft: An Unwise Solution

    1352 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most obvious problem with a military draft is that it creates soldiers that do not want to go to war. Currently our army is volunteer-only, and no one can be forced to enlist if he or she does not want to. This maintains our army as efficient and dedicated to its goal with its members being committed and personally connected to the well-being of American interests. These voluntary soldiers are the best kind of soldiers because they believe in what they are doing. Generalizing slightly, they are willing to give their lives for this country and the missions that it takes on in the world. If a draft were reenacted, this would not be so. Upon forcing citizens to enlist, ou...

    Read More

  • Combining Military Leadership With Civilian Management Work Ethics

    2571 Words  | 6 Pages

    Feaver, P., Kohn, R.( eds. Soldiers and Civilians: The civil-military gap and american national security. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 2001.

    Read More

  • Child Labor Essay

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Child labor is the employment of children, but not all work done by children should be classified as child labor that should be eliminated. Children’s participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling is generally regarded as being something positive. The term “child labor” is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Christine Rosen's 'Our Cell Phones Ourselves'

    1719 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the article entitled, “Our Cell Phones Ourselves”, Christine Rosen describes how cell phones have changed the way we communicate. Rosen tells the readers the main purpose for cell phone use in the past, versus present day. Her purpose is to make society aware of how cell phones have influenced our lives in order to inspire change as to how we view our cell phones. Rosen directs her writing to everyone in the present day by describing the negative results of cell phone use and how it impacts our lives and those around us. Without a doubt, cell phones are going to be a part of our world, but it is the responsibility of every cell phone owner to exercise self control and understand that a cell phone is nothing more than a device.

    Read More

  • Child Labor

    2143 Words  | 5 Pages

    Child Labor is not an isolated problem. The phenomenon of child labor is an effect of economic discrimination. In different parts of the world, at different stages of histories, laboring of child has been a part of economic life. More than 200 million children worldwide, some are as young as 4 and 5 years old, are slaves to the production line. These unfortunate children manufacture shoes, matches, clothing, rugs and countless other products that are flooding the American market and driving hard-working Americans out of jobs. These children worked long hours, were frequently beaten, and were paid a pittance. In 1979, a study shows more than 50 million children below the age of 16 were considered child labor (United Nation labors agency data). In 1998, according to the Campaign for Labor rights that is a NGO and United Nation Labor Agency, 250 million children around the world are working in farms, factories, and household. Some human rights experts indicate that there are as many as 400 million children under the age of 15 are performing forced labor either part or full-time under unsafe work environment. Based upon the needs of the situation, there are specific areas of the world where the practice of child labor is taking place. According to the journal written by Basu, Ashagrie gat...

    Read More

  • Use of Mobile Phones By Students

    505 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mobile phones are undeniable today. Almost everybody has a mobile phone. Formerly, it only functioned as a portable mean of communication. The function of a mobile phone has developed into entertainment. Furthermore, mobile phone has also come into the schools. However, it has both positive and negative effect on students. This essay argues that mobile phones will bring more negative than positive effect for students. Of course, students use it as a mean of communication and sometimes for an emergency call if they need it. Yet, they would use their mobile phones for both bullying and cheating. Also, mobile phones will make students lost concentration during their study.

    Read More

More about The Military Draft is Against the US Constitution

Open Document