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conscription

(Encyclopedia) conscription, compulsory enrollment of personnel for service in the armed forces. Obligatory service in the armed forces has existed since ancient times in many cultures, including the…

Brewer's: Conscript Fathers

In Latin, Patres Conscripti. The Roman senate. Romulus instituted a senate consisting of a hundred elders, called Patres (Fathers). After the Sabines joined the State, another hundred were…

draft riots

(Encyclopedia) draft riots, in the American Civil War, mob action to protest unfair Union conscription. The Union Conscription Act of Mar. 3, 1863, provided that all able-bodied males between the…

selective service

(Encyclopedia) selective service, in U.S. history, term for conscription. Conscription was established (1863) in the U.S. Civil War, but proved unpopular (see draft riots). The law authorized release…

draft, military

(Encyclopedia) draft, military: see conscription; selective service.

Preston, John Smith

(Encyclopedia) Preston, John Smith, 1809–81, Confederate general in the American Civil War, b. near Abingdon, Va. He practiced law at Abingdon and Columbia, S.C., but made his fortune operating a…

Ralston, James Layton

(Encyclopedia) Ralston, James LaytonRalston, James Laytonrôlˈstən [key], 1881–1948, Canadian cabinet minister, b. Nova Scotia. In the first Mackenzie King administration, he was minister of national…

impressment

(Encyclopedia) impressment, forcible enrollment of recruits for military duty. Before the establishment of conscription, many countries supplemented their militia and mercenary troops by impressment…