Conscription, also known as the draft, is a policy in which the government requires citizens to serve in the military. It was used during the Civil War to enlist soldiers into the Union Army.
Related terms
Volunteer: Individuals who joined the Union Army willingly without being drafted.
Enlistment: The act of signing up for military service voluntarily.
Conscientious Objector: A person who refuses to serve in the military based on religious or moral grounds.