Book Review: Conscription, Conscientious Objection, and Draft Resistance in American History by Elmer
| Jurisdiction | United States,Federal,Rhode Island |
| Pages | 0027 |
| Citation | Vol. 72 No. 3 Pg. 0027 |
| Publication year | 2023 |
Margaret E. Curran, Esq.
Margaret E. Curran, Esq.
Attorney at Law Providence
Jerry Elmer's new book, Conscription, Conscientious Objection, and Draft Resistance in American History (Brill, 2023), is an essential addition to the history of the draft and anti-war activism in the United States. This work has a powerful narrative drive and lucid, accessible scholarship based on deep research, including many primary sources.
It is surprising to learn that the book represents the first time anyone has presented the entire history of conscription in America, from pre-Revolutionary War militias through the end of the draft, in January 1973, after the Paris Peace Accords were signed, ending the involvement of America's armed forces in Vietnam. Its many original sources include government documents obtained by Freedom of Information Act requests, sources that have been disregarded or missed by earlier historians writing on these topics.
I must disclose that Jerry and I are friends, and I have followed the book from near inception. We live near each other, and over countless pleasant hours on my pandemic-safe front porch, starting in the summer of 2020, I heard about the project’s organization, the research trips,
I must disclose that Jerry and I are friends, and I have followed the book from near inception. We live near each other, and over countless pleasant hours on my pandemic-safe front porch, starting the individual chapters as they were finished, the case law reviewed, and finding a publisher. When the manuscript was completed in August 2023, I could not wait to read it. Agreeing to write a review ensured my early access.
And I was not disappointed. While the book contains much detailed information, covers roughly 200 years, and runs almost 350 pages, it is an inviting read. Jerry Elmer writes very well, and his tone is almost conversational. He presents a wealth of fascinating facts in ways that keep the reader engaged and moving forward. Whatever your political views, it would be hard to deny that this work has been done with great intellectual honesty and rigor and teaches the reader not only about the draft and resistance to it but also about the broad social, economic, and political context in which these issues were debated.
The book is...
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