During World War II, the United States was not at war. Many Americans hoped that we would never become involved in the conflict, so we should stay neutral. But as the nation began to lose faith in Great Britain’s military and the nation’s own ability to defeat Germany, the draft took shape. The government asked Congress to extend the service term of conscription for the first 600,000 draftees.
In November 1942, the United States entered the war, and the draft ages were extended to twenty-one. While it was still illegal to enlist blacks into the army, racism meant that blacks were excluded from the process. The War Manpower Commission estimated that it increased the drafting ratio from a few hundred thousand men to one out of five. The Selective Service System was suspended until 1945, and the draft was later reinstated.
The United States first implemented a draft in 1940 after President Roosevelt signed the Selective Service Act. During WWII, the Selective Service System conducted six registrations. The records are in two groups at the National Personnel Records Center. These documents are part of Record Group 147 – Draft Registrations During World War II. The Selective Service and Training Act were a controversial law that was widely opposed by political leaders and the educational establishment.
The draft was unpopular among left-wing sectors at first. During the war, many Socialists were jailed for obstructing recruitment. In 1920, Eugene Debs, leader of the Socialist Party of America, ran for president from his cell in Atlanta. His sentence was commuted to time served when President Warren G. Harding freed him on December 25, 1921. The Industrial Workers of the World attempted to obstruct the war effort by not registering or striking in war-related industries. They had limited success.
After the U.S. was drafted, millions of young men joined the military. However, the Selective Service Act changed the definition of a conscientious objector. In World War II, the term “conscientious objector” included those who chose not to fight in the war. In contrast, the U.S.’s Selective Service Act defined conscientious objectors as people who were unwilling to join the military.
During the war, the draft was extended to include men who were 18 to 37 years old. It was extended to a general age of 18-37 years and was ended in 1944. Its age limit was increased from 16 to 35. The enlistment term was increased from six to fifteen years. As a result, men with physical limitations were more likely to be rejected. The enlistment of black men lasted until the end of the war.
At the start of the war, the U.S. draft was controversial. At the time, several Socialists were imprisoned for refusing to serve. The Socialist Party of America, led by Eugene Debs, ran for president from his prison cell in Atlanta in 1920. His imprisonment was commuted to time served in August 1941, but the war ended. It was also opposed by the Industrial Workers of the World.
The draft was a controversial issue during World War II. During the war, most men were expected to serve a mandatory period of two years. But the draft was unpopular with many left-wing groups, including the Socialist Party of America (SPA). The Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World’s leadership both opposed the draft and attempted to block it. They argued against it on the ground of elitism and discrimination.
The draft was introduced in 1940. It lasted until the end of the war, and over 10 million men were inducted into the military. During the war, only men between the ages of 18 and 45 were drafted. During the Second World War, there were more than ten million people drafted, but most men served voluntarily. But did this system work? Does the draft affect the war?