Abstract This paper discusses the tensions and divisions that conscription created within Canada in 1917 when the allied situation in World War I demanded a massive mobilization of manpower. At the beginning of the war, voluntary enlistment was taken for granted, but as the war dragged on it did not produce the needed numbers. The writer explains that the French-speaking community in Quebec was seen as not doing their part and this led to heated and bitter debate and further divisions between them and the English-speaking community. The writer provides the historical and political background for these divisions and discusses how conscription affected other groups negatively as well.
Outline:
Introduction
World War I
Quebec
Conscription Conclusion
From the Paper "The start of World War I affected Canada as a new Conservative government headed by Robert Laird Borden set out to rally the public to the British cause in the war. At the end of the previous term, Canadians had been divided on the issue, but Borden managed to bring them together after Germany invaded neutral Belgium. It was then that 33,000 Canadian soldiers reached England and fought at the second battle of Ypres. By 1916, there were four Canadian divisions, with a fifth available for reinforcements. Canada's participation served to bolster the nation's image in the world and contributed to the end of its colonial status."
Abstract Conscription is often believed in principle to be either wrong, unnecessary, or both, or necessary under certain circumstances and therefore morally permissible due to them. There has also been extensive argument over the question of how exactly the clauses of the Constitution that relate to military powers and their foundations in the branches of government should be interpreted. The paper shows that this question logically leads to the examination and assessment of the intentions of those men who actually conceived of and wrote these clauses. At first, one might assume that the Framers never considered the prospect of a military draft in the United States, since its first instance in this country occurred over 70 years after the ratification of the Constitution. The paper argues that although we will never know for sure the true original meaning of the Constitution's language, there is an abundance of evidence that strongly suggests that the Framers never intended to institute a general conscription of ordinary citizens, and even that they were expressly opposed to and made efforts to guard against the implementation of conscription. The paper further argues that by using the evidence we possess of the Framers' intentions to interpret the Constitution's clauses concerning the military, as well as supporting background evidence from the time period, only one conclusion can be reasonably drawn: By applying a standard which focuses on the original meaning of the Constitution as the Framers intended it, the United States military draft cannot be considered constitutional.
From the Paper "It appears, then, that Holzer would also likely agree that underlying the formation of American political thought in the independence and post-independence era is the philosophy of John Locke and his social contract. This contract is made possible by citizens who voluntarily give up some of their natural rights in order to enjoy an even better set of rights in a political community. These concepts are themes that we see in both the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, which provide for the government protection of life, liberty and property that Locke advocated. This fact becomes important to the question of the constitutionality of conscription when we consider that the draft "contradicts this element of liberal democracy by demanding the possible sacrifice of one's life for one's country.""
Abstract This paper discusses the events and effects of July of 1863, when a major four-day eruption of violence occurred in New York as a result of the passage of the Conscription Act. The draft riots represented a period in American history when government focus was on social conflict. The author illustrates how the riots highlighted two explosive issues in mid-century New York: Relations between the wealthy and the poor and between blacks and whites.
From the Paper "The main participants in the New York City draft riots were Irish Catholic immigrants, although some were native-borns, German-Americans, and Protestants. A history of conflict between the Irish immigrants and the blacks was a strong motive for much of the riot's violent acts. In 1845 a potato famine hit Ireland, destroying the only food supply of millions of poor Irish farmers. This potato famine caused 2.5 million people to leave Ireland within the next ten years . These millions of poor Irish were moved into the Five Points, an area with many African-Americans due to the low cost. ?Racial tension began to mount, as the two groups were thrown into bitter competition for the worst dwellings and lowest-paying jobs .? "
Abstract This paper examines how occasionally disobedience may be necessary to preserve one's moral integrity. For instance, if one is directed by law to kill a human being, or to commit some other sort of heinous crime it is up to the individual to decide whether obedience poses enough of a threat to his or her moral integrity that he or she cannot continue following the law or rule. It evaluates how in most cases, however, it is in the best interests of the individual to obey and to instead amend the system where necessary. It provides examples throughout history where disobeying laws had positive results such as leaders of nonviolent protest movement (e.g., Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr.) who broke laws in the strict sense. It also analyzes laws such as conscription laws which can cause a travesty of moral obligations.
From the Paper "Therefore, strictly speaking, it is extremely difficult to act against a law without violating some facet of the body of law in some way. Much of our conception of changing things by "working within the system" is based on Western governmental notions of democratic government. In many other political contexts, there may be no system to work with. For instance, in a totalitarian dictatorship, such as exists in North Korea, for instance, what room is there to change the system? The very act of attempting to change any element of the system might very well be regarded as illegal. It is arguable that this can be found in United States history as well, as with the Sedition Act mentioned above."
Abstract This paper argues that military registration needs to be a choice open to all young men, starting at age 18. It discusses the attitudes prevalent in American society today, which call for the raising of the age to 21. The paper argues, however, that if, at 18, they are legally recognized as adults, then they should be allowed to make the decision regarding conscription themselves.
From the Paper "The system of Selective Service strives to balance the country's need for an active pool of reserves and the rights of individual citizens who oppose military conscription. An 18-year old is legally recognized as an adult who could make decisions regarding his vote, career decisions, his ability to consent to marriage and sexual activity and his culpability in the commission of crime. It therefore stands to reason that an 18-year old could make an informed decision regarding serving the country in the military as well."
Abstract This paper integrates several Civil War topics, including the power dynamics of oligarchies in the antebellum South, the authorship and diffusion of pro-slavery ideology, the development and implications of the plantation slavery economy, and an analysis of different explanations for the collapse of the Confederacy, into the thesis that the South's lack of pragmatism and adaptability brought about its defeat. The writer dissects the discourse of James Henry Hammond and John C. Calhoun and presents pro-slavery ideology as a fundamentally conservative reaction to early capitalism that diffused from a planter elite to the Southern masses through the conflation of the Southern identity with the institution of slavery. The industrial and technological stagnation, aristocratic trends, and dependent nature of the Southern economy are weighed as cogent factors in the failure of Confederate resources. The writer explains, using cognitive dissonance theory, how the conflicting elements of Confederate nationalism, such as scriptural fundamentalism, states' rights theory, and pro-slavery discourse, failed to successfully coexist with the reality of slavery and led to problems with strategy, conscription, enlistment, and solidarity.
Paper Outline
I. Introduction
II. Reactionary, Principled Ideology
III. Socioeconomic Maladjustment
IV. Confederate Defeat by Tradition and Ideology
V. Conclusion
From the Paper "James Henry Hammond, editor of The Southern Times, defended the right to property through scriptural fundamentalism and carried slavery above human criticism by declaring it a biblically sanctioned institution. In order to justify chattel slavery's presuppositions of vindicated human property, proslavery ideology needed to incorporate the priority of slaveholders? right to property over slaves? right to liberty. Hammond provided this by asserting that man's right to "property in man" had been "consecrated" by the Bible. Suggesting a similitude between abolitionism and anti-property radicalism, as did many reactionary Southerners, Hammond anticipated that, after defeating slavery, the property-threatening ideology of antislavery would challenge the capital of the North."
Abstract The paper contrasts Eire's policy of neutrality, during WWII, to that of Northern Ireland's involvement in the fight against the Axis powers. The paper explains the reasons why each government had to choose either neutrality or involvement. The paper then looks at how each government managed to cope with the state of war. Finally, the paper studies the effectiveness of these governments in matters of war, namely security, regulations of supplies and conscription.
From the Paper "During World War One, the whole Ireland, linked with Great Britain by the Act of Union of 1800, had chosen to fully support the Allied side against Germany. Following the call from both the leader of Northern Ireland, Edward Carson, and the leader of Southern Ireland, John Redmond, the Ulster Volunteers and 90% of the Irish Volunteers had enrolled as divisions of the British army. Twenty-five years later, the deal had changed and it was with a newly divided Ireland facing various internal problems that World War Two broke. The result was that Eire chose to observe a policy of neutrality, while Northern Ireland, still part of the United Kingdom, followed Britain in the fight against the Axis."
Analyzes theories of utilitarianism, social contract and liberalism applied to the legitimacy of the military draft as a policy of the state and examines social morality, elites, justice, general will and politics.
9,000 words (approx. 36 pages), 7 sources, 1992, $ 135.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the issue of conscription as a philosophical concept of political justice. The plan of the research will be to set forth the context in which the issue of conscription as an instrument of political policy may arise, and then to discuss, with reference to various philosophers of state structure, the nexus of theories of statism and the rationale or explication of the practice of conscription.
The question of conscription as a valid policy of state involves consideration of the circumstances under which the state might compel a citizen to relinquish individual discretion and become part of a military force. Answering such a question goes to the consideration of the very structure of society, for it must be presumed that conscription is put forward as a policy in part for the reasons of state. It follows that the validity of ..."
Abstract This paper examines the book "Clay v. United States: Muhammad Ali Objects to War", written by Suzanne Freedman. It outlines reasons Ali refused to be drafted, the actual court process and the impact the courts decision had on the nation.
From the Paper "The problem with the United States is that it always seems to become involved in events in which it has no place to be in. The Government seems to stick their nose where it doesn?t belong all too often. For many Americans one of these cases happened when the U.S. became involved in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was the first war that the U.S. was involved in that the general public did not agree to support or condemn it. The book Clay v. United States: Muhammad Ali Objects to War, written by Suzanne Freedman, describes one of the problems created by this "split" in the American public, the draft. For the entirety of the war there was always skeptics about what the U.S. was actually doing there. The Selective Service Act outraged many of Americans because of the opinion of the war. To show their disapproval of the war many refused to be drafted. Cassius Clay, a.k.a. Muhammad Ali, was one of these people but for different reasons."
Abstract This paper discusses the Israeli Defense Force with the following issues being addressed: historical background, defense strategy, threats being faced, ground forces, navy, air force, conscription, women in the army, etc.
Abstract This paper looks at how Canadian author Jonathan F. Vance's 1997 award-winning novel, "Death So Noble", is an example of an essential work in Canadian literature, one that is paramount in explaining Canada's involvement in the Great War of 1914-1918. In titling his work "Death So Noble", Vance suggests to his readers that dying in defense of one's nation is of the greatest nobility. It explains that, through examination of historical reviews regarding Canadian participation in the Great War, Jonathan Vance is able to derive a convincing argument pertaining to Canada's role through the eyes of its contemporaries.
From the Paper "Throughout the novel, Vance is successful in presenting various techniques employed by the Canadian government, soldiers who fought in the war, and war-time contemporaries who remained in Canada during the war to create this "mythical" viewpoint of the Great War. Vance organizes the individual chapters in his book so that each chapter is used to discuss how different methods(ie. propaganda) that are used in painting the picture of progress, glory, and nationalism that hangs over the Canadian war effort. Vance cites examples of propaganda(21, 40, 118, 145, 177, and many others ) distributed by the government and the military to provide all Canadian citizens with the positive reinforcement the nation needs to come together in this time of crisis. All of this war-time propaganda does its part in conveying glory and enjoyment to the Canadian public."
An historical-biographical analysis of Kate Chopin's seminal novella "The Awakening" in the context of women's labor roles at the turn of the 20th century.
Abstract Kate Chopin's controversial novella "The Awakening" pre-dated the feminist movement in America, but the rebelliousness of her protagonist presaged a revolution in women's roles in society that would arrive in the ensuing decades. This paper examines the changing situation of the American woman during the 1900s, from the socially conscripted mother and domestic servant to the empowered and economically viable female of the high capitalist era. Chopin's Edna Pontellier is shown to provide a blueprint for this iconoclastic new woman. Sociological and economic ideas of the day are conflated with Chopin's narrative to provide a multifaceted and historically-grounded analysis.
From the Paper "Although afforded a generous amount of comfort and leisure through her husband's economic success, Edna is nonetheless restricted to the domestic domain in her activities. Paradoxically, she is trapped in a situation wherein "the impedimenta of her female, wifely oppression are precisely the impedimenta of her upper-middle-class status." The divided realms that Leonce and Edna occupy throughout The Awakening epitomize the concept of "separate spheres" first acknowledged by French social critic Alexis de Tocqueville after his visit to America in the 1830s."
Abstract This essay compares Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" with Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince" and applies the principles of both works to the modern business environment. The paper asserts that although the writings were not intended to be applied to business leadership,these classic works are nonetheless timeless strategic guides for the ultimate success. The paper demonstrates how, in today's business world, many aspects can be applied in less dramatic and literal fashion while still having great significance. For example, the paper discusses how in "The Prince", Machiavelli suggests eliminating whole opposing families in order to reduce the threat of revenge. This philosophy has many applications in the business world without the literally executions. Likewise, the paper assesses Sun Tzu's work, which recommends removing the head of an insubordinate conscript to prove a point or to increase discipline. While the literal interpretation may have been acceptable in ancient China, other more symbolic interpretations are applicable to the business world today, argues the paper.
From the Paper "Very little is known about the author of the Art of War but there has been much supposition and speculation. The book was thought to have been an instructional manual for potential generals in ancient China. The Art of War could also be considered as an instructional science of strategy document. The basic philosophy has become a Chinese mental martial art called bing-fa which because of the ambiguous nature of Chinese Hanja can be translated into literally 'competitive skills' or 'martial art'. The manual is a series of nine chapters which provide insights into how to address the challenges and how to mentally prepare for both leading others or a methodology for one's personal success. Because of the title and the militarily based examples, most believe that the sole purpose of the work was to teach how to fight battles. Modern interpretations and adaptations of the principles continue to help individuals create an internal and powerful system for success."
Abstract This paper reviews William McKee Evans "To Die Game." The book is about the Lowry gang in North Carolina during the Civil War and Reconstruction period.
From the Paper "The story of the Lowry Band Indian Guerillas of Reconstruction recounts the story of Henry Berry Lowry, a Lumbee Indian of North Carolina responsible for killing a Confederate official escaping punishment for his crime and leading an ongoing guerilla war to avoid working as conscripted Confederate labor."
Abstract In this paper, the writer looks at similarities between the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian war. The writer explains that these two wars, as the first modern industrial wars, were similar in their power to mobilize, organize and deploy mass conscript armies. The writer contends that the American Civil War took much longer due to deficiencies in Northern military leadership.
From the Paper "This research paper compares and contrasts military and some related political aspects of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. Both of these wars involved the mobilization, organization and deployment on a continental scale of mass conscription armies, armed with powerful standardized weapons of the early industrial era. Both wars caused carnage and casualties among the participants on a theretofore unprecedented scale, especially the American Civil War, which lasted more than four years while the active combat phase ... "
Tags: industrialization, of, war, revolution, in, military, technology, and, strategy
