Which of the following individuals would be exempt from both the Union Army and Confederate Army draft?

(1 point)
Responses

immigrant men who had filed for citizenship

immigrant men who had filed for citizenship

wealthy men

wealthy men

married men

married men

African American men

African American men

1 answer

During the Civil War, certain exemptions applied to both the Union and Confederate drafts.

  1. Wealthy men: In the Union, wealthier men could hire substitutes to serve in their place, effectively allowing them to avoid the draft. In the Confederacy, wealthier individuals could also gain exemptions through similar means or pay a commutation fee.

  2. Married men: During the war, many states and both the Union and Confederate governments provided some level of draft exemptions for married men, especially those with children, though the specifics varied by jurisdiction and changed over time.

  3. Immigrant men who had filed for citizenship: Generally, being an immigrant did not exempt someone from the draft unless specific arrangements were made, and filing for citizenship alone typically did not provide an exemption.

  4. African American men: In the Confederacy, African Americans were not drafted as they were considered property, not citizens. In the Union, African American men were actually recruited into the Army once they were allowed to enlist.

Considering these details, wealthy men and married men would most likely be exempt from the draft, depending on the circumstances and policies in place at the time. However, since the question asks specifically for exemptions from both drafts, wealthy men would be an accurate answer due to the general practices of both the Union and Confederate drafts.