ABSTRACT
Throughout American history war has been the rule and peace the exception. This study focuses on the fundamental, but timely and timeless question of how, when, and why the United States has raised an army. The focus is on the relationship between military service and citizenship beginning with the colonial era and ending with the first year of the Obama Presidency. Basic questions have guided the selection of documents and the editors’ efforts to establish the historical context for understanding and evaluating the relationship and history of citizenship and military service:
• How, when, and why has the nation raised an army? • How has it drawn upon the human resources available for military
service? • Why have some citizens served and others have not? • Do all citizens, male and female, who are of appropriate age and
physical and mental fitness have an obligation to serve? • Should willingness to serve be a condition for naturalized citizen-
ship?
