This film is available to stream on demand
The United States military draft has always stirred controversy, exposing fault lines in race, class and culture. "The Draft" explores the turbulent history of the draft, from the Revolutionary War to present, including the debate over its termination.
Originally airing in 2015, "The Draft" was part of PBS’ special block of programming related to the Vietnam War.
Americans have grappled with the tensions between patriotic duty and personal liberty during each of the nation’s major wars, and "The Draft" takes viewers inside the story, bringing to life the violent battles and vital discussions over mandatory military service.
Scenes of today’s military in combat, interviews with significant figures, including Donald Rumsfeld, Dan Rather and Tom Hayden, and rarely seen archival footage punctuate the issue.
From the Civil War draft riots, to the radical draft reforms of World War I, to the mass mobilization of World War II, "The Draft" examines the actions of the Vietnam War, when many Americans came together to end compulsory service.
But in more recent decades, the question of who serves in America’s military has emerged again as small numbers of Americans in uniform fight for years on distant battlefields.
“Though the draft ended with the Vietnam War, its legacy casts a long shadow across the American experience,” said Bill Gardner, Vice President of Programming and Development for PBS. “We wanted to present a film that explores the many aspects of mandatory military service, throughout our history, and how its elimination has impacted both the way we view our armed forces and how we fight our nation’s wars.”
“Today men and women serving in military are there because they want to serve, and the country's a better place for it.” – Donald Rumsfeld
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