The Nixon White House and the Selective Service System claimed they made a great effort to produce a random result, one that was as fair as possible. Pentagon experts, at the time, estimated that anyone with a number over 200 was unlikely to get drafted.
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Why was the Vietnam draft lottery unfair?
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.
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.
How did the draft lottery work during Vietnam?
The first number drawn was 258 (September 14), so all registrants with that birthday were assigned lottery number 1. The second number drawn corresponded to April 24, and so forth. All men of draft age (born January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1950) who shared a birth date would be called to serve at once.
How many people refused the draft in Vietnam?
According to peace studies scholar David Cortright, more than half of the 27 million men eligible for the draft during the Vietnam War were deferred, exempted, or disqualified.
Was the draft unconstitutional?
The Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the draft act in the Selective Draft Law Cases on January 7, 1918. The decision said the Constitution gave Congress the power to declare war and to raise and support armies.
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.
How long did draftees serve in Vietnam?
two years
The draft was far from ideal as a source of military manpower. Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. The technical specialties had to be filled with volunteers.
What number did the Vietnam draft get to?
Draft age men were assigned a number between 1 and 366, depending on their birthday. The lowest numbers were called first. This was all entirely at random. Of course, that didn’t stop some of those who were called to service from further avoiding Selective Service.
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.
Who is exempt from the draft?
Ministers. Certain elected officials, exempt so long as they continue to hold office. 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.
When were the last draftees sent to Vietnam?
Lottery Drawings
The last draft call was on December 7, 1972, and the authority to induct expired on June 30, 1973.
Is being drafted mandatory?
A draft is the mandatory enrollment of individuals into the armed forces. The United States military has been all-volunteer since 1973. But an act of Congress could still reinstate the draft in case of a national emergency.
What would happen if you dodged the draft?
All males who live in the United States are required to register for Selective Service, or the draft, within one month of their 18th birthday. Those who refuse to register can be charged with a felony and can receive fines, a prison sentence or other forms of punishment.
What happened to men who refused to go to Vietnam?
Members of The Resistance publicly burned their draft cards or refused to register for the draft.These draft resisters hoped that their public civil disobedience would help to bring the war and the draft to an end. Many young men went to federal prison as part of this movement.
Can you be drafted if you are the only son?
the “only son”, “the last son to carry the family name,” and ” sole surviving son” must register with Selective Service. These sons can be drafted. However, they may be entitled to peacetime deferment if there is a military death in the immediate family.
Does the draft violate the 13th Amendment?
United States , men who have been drafted into the military during the First World War challenge the government’s action as a violation of the Thirteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court finds that the Thirteenth Amendment does not protect citizens from mandatory military service in times of war.
Are police officers exempt from the draft?
Some men were exempt from service because of the importance of their occupation. Police officers fell into this category. Other young men—students or not—came from influential families whose doctors would declare them physically unable to serve.
What ages were drafted in Vietnam?
Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first.
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.
How long did the average soldier serve in Vietnam?
Fact: The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty.
