Enrollment Act

The Enrollment Act, passed on March 3, 1863, was the United States' first national draft. It required all able-bodied men between 20 and 45 to enroll for military service, with draftees chosen by lottery. This act aimed to fill the Union Army's ranks as volunteer numbers dwindled during the American Civil War.

Similar to the Confederacy's conscription, the Enrollment Act allowed men to avoid service by paying a $300 commutation fee or hiring a substitute. This provision led to accusations that the war was "a rich man's war but a poor man's fight," as wealthier individuals could afford to opt out of service. The act also coincided with a bounty system, where states and localities offered cash bonuses to enlistees, sometimes exceeding $1,000, to meet manpower quotas. This system was exploited through "bounty-jumping," where individuals would enlist, collect the bonus, desert, and reenlist. The draft and its associated issues, like the New York City draft riot, highlighted the significant social and economic tensions of the era.12