Question

What did the enrollment act do?  a. required all union male citizens between the ages of 20 and 45 to register for military service  b. required all confederate male citizens between the ages of 20 and 45 to register for military service

Answer 1

The Enrollment Act, passed by Congress in 1863, mandated that certain age groups of Union male citizens and immigrants register for military service and were subjected to a draft via a lottery system, although exemptions could be purchased.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Enrollment Act of 1863

The Enrollment Act, passed by Congress in March 1863, was a critical piece of legislation during the Civil War that required Union male citizens and immigrants who had filed for citizenship, between certain ages, to register for military service. Specifically, it required all unmarried men between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, and all married men between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five, to register. Those who registered were eligible for the draft, with a lottery system used to select draftees. While there were no exemptions by occupation, wealthy individuals could avoid service either by hiring substitutes or paying a commutation fee of $300 to the federal government. This act was an early form of conscription in the United States, aiming to bolster the Union army as volunteer enlistments declined.

Answer 2

The Enrollment Act required Union men, both single and married within certain age ranges, to register for military service during the Civil War. Selection for service was made through a lottery system, with options for substitution or payment to avoid conscription.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Enrollment Act of 1863

The Enrollment Act of March 1863, also known as the Civil War Military Draft Act, was legislation passed by the U.S. Congress to supply the Union Army with new troops during the Civil War. This act required all unmarried men between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, and all married men between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five, including immigrants who had declared their intent to become citizens, to register for military service. Men could be selected via a lottery system to serve in the military, although there were options for substitution or paying a fee to avoid conscription.

It's important to note that the Enrollment Act applied to Union citizens, not Confederate citizens. Unlike the Confederate draft, the Enrollment Act did not grant exemptions by occupation but did permit hiring substitutes or paying a commutation fee. It aimed to fill the quotas for each district by counting the number of eligible soldiers minus those already in service.