How did the canton system recruit soldiers for the Prussian army?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked. — Prussia The unification of Germany by Prussia, which brought most of north-central Europe into one kingdom.

Under the canton system, established by King Frederick William I, the Prussian army recruited half of its soldiers from the king's own subjects, while the other half consisted of hired foreigners.1

This system made all young men of the lower classes—primarily peasants—liable for military service. While the upper bourgeoisie was exempt from this requirement, the nobility held a moral obligation to serve within the officers' corps, a duty the king frequently emphasized. This recruitment method was a key component of Frederick William I’s efforts to gear the entire state organization toward maintaining a powerful military machine.1