Americans Should Know these 20 Facts About the History of the Draft

Americans Should Know these 20 Facts About the History of the Draft

Larry Holzwarth - March 12, 2019

Americans Should Know these 20 Facts About the History of the Draft
The US Army remained largely dependent on the State militias until the War of 1812. Wikimedia

3. The army remained militia-based before the War of 1812

During the decades between the end of the Revolutionary War at Yorktown and the opening shots of the War of 1812, the army was called into the field to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, as well as to fight the Indian Conspiracy in what became Ohio and Indiana. The Indian actions were commanded for a time by Revolutionary War hero General Mad Anthony Wayne, who led a small contingent of troops from the regular army, supplemented by local militia. Wayne was a martinet who despaired of the lack of discipline among the militias, who were often drunk on duty and deserted in droves.

When it became evident that America and Great Britain were again destined to fight along the Canadian border and in the west, as well as at sea, President Madison argued for the development of a professional army, conscripted for service for the duration of the war. Madison wanted a standing professional army of 40,000 men. His political enemies in Congress, predominantly from New England, argued fiercely against a draft, pointing out that one of the prime causes of the impending war was Britain’s forced conscription of seamen through impressment. In the end Madison did not get his draft, and the War of 18112 was fought with largely militia troops augmenting the regulars.

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