Race and Class Impacted Whether

¶ … Race and Class Impacted Whether or Not Soldiers were Drafted to the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was largely fought by citizen soldiers drafted by the United States' military draft. According to the way the draft was set up, every American male of at least eighteen years old was eligible to be drafted to serve in the United States military. However, the draft also had many exceptions that allowed for various individuals to be exempted for military duty. Often times these exemptions were awarded to those who were in school or were in a specific profession. On the other hand, exemptions were also given to those with enough financial and political influence to essentially buy an exemption. Often times these individuals would still be drafted but assigned to a non-combat role.

Although the draft legislation and process on its face was not discriminatory, because of the wide use of exemptions, the draft during the Vietnam War was discriminatory in practice. This was especially true as to those members of a minority race or lower class. Thus, the per capita percentage of African-Americans and those of low social economic status were far higher than the population as a whole.

Although there are many reasons for this discriminatory practice, the main reason was actually non-intentional. Those most likely to be eligible for an exemption were white and of upper economic levels as these individuals were the ones with the means of being in school or involved in a specific profession. Thus, the individuals who were left to be drafted tended to be minorities and those of lower income families.

Overview of Study

This study will review the specific numbers as to race and class as to those who were drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. The study will also review the total size of each population at the time of the Vietnam War so as to calculate the per capita percentage and make a fair comparison between white and no-white draftees and the average social-economic status of the average draftee. The study will focus on the years 1967 through 1970. The study will also review the exact terms of the draft legislation at the time with a particular focus on the exemptions that were made available. The result of the study will be to show exactly how race and social economic status had an adverse impact on determining whether or not an individual was to be drafted into the Vietnam War.

Key Questions: The key question is to go beyond simply showing that statistically the draft had a larger impact on minorities and low income individuals but to also demonstrate how this makes the draft a de facto discriminatory law.

Sources:

The primary sources that will be used in conducting this research include the military draft legislation and governmental records pertaining to the background information of all military draftees for the aforementioned years.

Approach:

The approach to be taken is primarily subjective and through an analysis of the statistical effect of the law.

Significance:

The significance of the research is that it will show how a federal law was de facto discriminatory and thus, in all likelihood, unconstitutional.

Sources:

Appy, Christian G. Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1993.