In today's world, we often believe that when war erupts, our youth will be called to fight, whether they want to or not. Many people, especially males, flee war zones due to the fear of conscription. However, the idea of conscription is a much more recent phenomenon than most realize, originating only in the 18th century with the French Revolution.
Previously, certain cultures viewed war as a way of life, expecting everyone to adopt a warrior mentality, like the Mongols under Genghis Khan. In other societies, the army was a professional, well-paid, and trained institution, as seen in Rome, where individuals voluntarily enlisted. This voluntary model prevailed in many regions until 1798 in France when the first official conscription system was implemented.
The French Revolution created numerous adversaries. The deposition of the King was perceived as a threat by neighboring monarchies. Consequently, in 1793, confronted with external threats from European coalitions and internal threats of counter-revolution, the Committee of Public Safety proclaimed a levée en masse. This was a general mobilization of all able-bodied, unmarried men between the ages of 18 and 25. Practically overnight, France possessed the largest army in Europe.
Later, in 1798, the Jourdan Law established conscription in France, designating military service as a civic duty for all eligible young men. This legislation blurred the lines between civilians and soldiers, laying the foundation for the concept of "total war" where entire nations, not just their armies, would be mobilized for conflict.
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