Defying Conscription: The Social, Political, and Military Consequences of Draft Evasion in the Union and Confederacy

This research paper examines draft evasion during the American Civil War as a reflection of deep social, economic, and political divides within the Union and Confederacy. It argues that draft resistance stemmed not from individual cowardice but structural inequalities and resentment among the poor and working class. Wealthy citizens could evade service through legal mechanisms like commutation fees, fueling the perception of the war as a “rich man’s war but a poor man’s fight.” Drawing on primary and secondary sources from scholars like David Williams and Stephanie McCurry, the paper analyzes events such as the New York City Draft Riots and the Richmond Bread Riot, emphasizing how economic hardship, family obligations, and distrust in government contributed to desertion and resistance. It also explores how race, ethnicity, and regional identity heightened class tensions, particularly among Irish immigrants in the North and non-slaveholding whites in the South. Ultimately, the paper contends that draft evasion revealed the contradictions within Civil War society, exposing the limits of national unity and conflicts over citizenship, class justice, and political legitimacy. By highlighting the experiences of those who resisted conscription, this study enhances our understanding of the Civil War as a struggle not only on the battlefield but within American society itself.