Draft Dodging

Definition

Draft dodging refers to the act of evading or refusing to comply with mandatory military conscription or the military draft. It involves individuals taking steps to avoid being inducted into the armed forces, often through legal or illegal means.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During the Vietnam War, draft dodging became a widespread form of protest against U.S. involvement in the conflict.
2. Common methods of draft dodging included seeking conscientious objector status, fleeing to Canada, or feigning medical or psychological conditions to be disqualified from service.
3. The Selective Service System was responsible for administering the draft and tracking individuals eligible for military service during the Vietnam War era.
4. Draft dodging had significant social and political implications, as it highlighted the growing opposition to the war and the government's efforts to maintain troop levels.
5. The issue of draft dodging and its consequences, such as criminal charges and social stigma, were central to the debates surrounding the Vietnam War and its impact on American society.

Review Questions

• Explain the motivations and methods used by individuals to dodge the draft during the Vietnam War.
  • During the Vietnam War, many individuals sought to avoid military service through a variety of methods, driven by moral, ethical, or political opposition to the conflict. Common approaches included applying for conscientious objector status, fleeing to Canada, or feigning medical or psychological conditions to be disqualified from the draft. These actions highlighted the growing public opposition to the war and the government's efforts to maintain troop levels through mandatory conscription.
• Describe the role of the Selective Service System in administering the draft and tracking individuals eligible for military service during the Vietnam War era.
  • The Selective Service System was the government agency responsible for maintaining information on those potentially subject to military conscription during the Vietnam War. This included registering eligible individuals, classifying them based on various criteria, and ultimately drafting them into the armed forces. The Selective Service System played a central role in the draft process, which became a highly contentious issue as more individuals sought to evade or resist the draft through various means, such as draft dodging.
• Analyze the broader social and political implications of draft dodging during the Vietnam War, and how it contributed to the debates and discussions surrounding the conflict.
  • Draft dodging during the Vietnam War had significant social and political ramifications. It highlighted the growing opposition to the war among the American public, particularly among younger generations who were directly affected by the draft. The issue of draft dodging and its consequences, such as criminal charges and social stigma, became central to the debates surrounding the Vietnam War and its impact on American society. These discussions reflected the broader tensions and divisions within the country, as the government's efforts to maintain troop levels through mandatory conscription clashed with the growing anti-war sentiment and the desire of many individuals to avoid military service.

Related terms

Conscientious Objection: The refusal to perform military service on the grounds of moral, ethical, or religious opposition to war.

Desertion: The unauthorized abandonment of military service, which is a criminal offense.

Selective Service System: The government agency responsible for maintaining information on those potentially subject to military conscription.