The Civil War: The Draft and the Home Front

The Civil War:
The Draft and the Home Front
Thurs, March 23 • 10:30-11:30 am
In-person at Trailside
Thurs, March 30 • 10:30-11:30 am (rescheduled from March 16th)
In-person at Sanford

Join educator (and Civil War buff) Mike Trebilcock for an interactive program looking at all aspects of the American Civil War – from its causes to its legacy and memory. Anyone with an interest in the Civil War – expert and novice alike – is encouraged to attend.

The Draft and the Home Front
In March of 1863, Congress passed the Enrollment Act – a law establishing a national draft. As the initial rush to enlist faded and the heavy casualties of 1862 added up – the Union needed more manpower to fight the war. The Confederacy had already been conscripting soldiers since the spring of 1862.

In this program we will look at the causes of conscription and reactions to the draft in both the North and South. The draft was deeply unpopular and we will discover why some people started to talk about “a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight.”

We will also look at the different experiences of civilians on the home front in the North and South as the war enters its third year. In the Confederacy especially, shortages and other hardships will cause disruptions like the Richmond Bread Riots.

Reserve your spot below or by calling 989-633-3700! Online registration is available up until 2 hours prior to the program start time. If you are attempting to register less than 2 hours prior, please call 989-633-3700 for assistance.

Trailside Civil War registrants: Please enter through the main entrance or by the library and proceed directly to room 160. There will be an extra lunch sign-in sheet there so that you will not need to enter Trailside until after the program. This helps our Line Dancing group that meets in Trailside at the same time to remain uninterrupted. Thank you!