The first comprehensive conscription act was not passed until 1863 when the Union forces were under great pressure during the Civil War. A $300 buyout provision forced the brunt of that law upon the poor. They rebelled. The July 1863 Draft Riot led by poor Irish immigrants paralyzed New York City for 3 days and created similar chaos in other northern localities. The draft instituted at the time of our entrance into World War I was met with similar displeasure. Over 50 percent of those called applied for exemptions and almost 300.000 men failed to answer draft calls and were never arrested.
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