The draft for the Vietnam War brought with it anxiety and anger to many American households.The draft was viewed as unequal because the working class man’s only choice was to go to war, while the wealthy men would go to college or enlist in the National Guard.
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How was the draft Unfair?
How was the draft unfair? They were chosen at random which meant the most skillful workers and ones with medical issues had to go. Minorities were drafted, and many came right out of high school.
Was the draft used during the Vietnam War fair?
Ironically, as the draft continued to fuel the war effort, it also intensified the antiwar cause. Although the Selective Service’s deferment system meant that men of lower socioeconomic standing were most likely to be sent to the front lines, no one was completely safe from the draft.
What was a major criticism of the draft?
Critics of the Selective Service System argued that the draft was not fair. The system gave local draft boards considerable influence in selecting men for service, and it also granted deferments to college students and men who worked in certain designated occupations.
Why a draft is bad?
A draft is dangerous
When those aloof people play key roles in the infantry, failing to do the job well might be fatal. These people may not care about holding security or staying awake on watch, which can needlessly endanger the lives of all the people who want to do their job the right way.
How was the Vietnam War draft avoided?
Here are 11 ways people beat the draft in the 1970s.
- Be a Conscientious Objector.
- Make up a health condition.
- Have children who need you.
- Be a homosexual.
- Run away to Canada.
- Go to college.
- Have a high lottery number.
- Hold an “essential” civilian job.
What group opposed the draft?
To rally the poor, workers, white farmers, and immigrants against the draft, the Democratic Party often used racist rhetoric, blasting the Lincoln Administration for forcing white men to fight and die for the cause of freeing black slaves.
Why was the draft necessary in Vietnam?
Origins. The lottery of 1969 was conceived to address perceived inequities in the draft system as it existed previously, and to add more military personnel towards the Vietnam War.By the end of 1965, President Johnson had sent 82,000 troops to Vietnam, and his military advisors wanted another 175,000.
What happens if you get drafted and refuse to go?
If you get a draft notice, show up, and refuse induction, you’ll probably be prosecuted. However, some people will slip through the cracks in the system, and some will win in court. If you show up and take the physical, there’s a good chance that you’ll flunk.
How would the draft work today?
A draft held TODAY would use a lottery to determine the order of call.A draft held today would use a lottery system under which a man would spend only one year in first priority for the draft—either the calendar year he turned 20 or the year his deferment ended, whichever came first.
How did the Vietnam conflict end?
Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the following year.
What were the main arguments of Vietnam war protesters?
Peace movement leaders opposed the war on moral and economic grounds. The North Vietnamese, they argued, were fighting a patriotic war to rid themselves of foreign aggressors. Innocent Vietnamese peasants were being killed in the crossfire.
When did draft end for Vietnam War?
The last draft call was on December 7, 1972, and the authority to induct expired on June 30, 1973.
Was the draft necessary in ww2?
The Draft and WWII
On September 16, 1940, the United States instituted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft. This was the first peacetime draft in United States’ history.
Is the draft still a thing?
But an act of Congress could still reinstate the draft in case of a national emergency. The Selective Service System is the agency that registers men and is responsible for running a draft.
Can you still be drafted into the military?
Just What Is the Draft, and Why Must You Register?Basically, this means that if we ever have a national emergency or war that the all-volunteer military can’t adequately support, Congress and the president can reinstate the draft and force male citizens to serve in the military.
Why was the Vietnam War unpopular?
Many Americans opposed the war on moral grounds, appalled by the devastation and violence of the war. Others claimed the conflict was a war against Vietnamese independence, or an intervention in a foreign civil war; others opposed it because they felt it lacked clear objectives and appeared to be unwinnable.
What prevents you from getting drafted?
Even among the fit, drug-free, educated masses, many will still be too short, too tall, have flat feet or be the single parent of a minor child. All of those reasons will keep someone out of the military in general, but each branch has its own particular limitations.
What stops you from being drafted?
Veterans, generally exempt from service in peacetime draft. Immigrants and dual nationals in some cases may be exempt from U.S. military service depending upon their place of residence and country of citizenship.
Why did students protest the Vietnam war?
Republican President Richard Nixon suspected that most students protested the Vietnam War because they feared being drafted. He ended the student deferment and established a draft lottery.
Which act was a protest against the Vietnam war?
Draft-card burning became one of the most iconic forms of protest during the war. It was a gesture made by young men who wished to buck the system but were not comfortable with more extreme measures such as going to Canada, participating in riots, or destroying induction centers.
