Draft Escalation
Selective Service requirements fueled the war machine while making withdrawal politically difficult. The draft called up increasing numbers of young men as troop requirements grew. College deferments created class divisions in who served, sparking social tensions. Military planners relied on conscription to maintain force levels throughout the conflict. President Nixon later ended the draft partially to defuse anti-war sentiment. Once millions of Americans had been compelled to serve, admitting mistake became politically poisonous for elected officials.
