International Conscientious Objectors Day – May 15, 2024

History of International Conscientious Objectors Day

A conscientious objector is an “individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service.” They do so on grounds like conscience, religion, freedom of thought, etc. The first-ever record of a conscientious objector was in Ancient Rome as far back as 295 A.D. A man by the name of Maximilianus was conscripted to the Roman Army but claimed that he could not serve due to his religious convictions — he was consequently executed.

A very early recognition was granted to the Dutch Mennonites by William the Silent in 1575. They were granted the right to refuse military service in exchange for money. This provision was not a formal legislation, however. The latter first happened in 1757 following Quakers’ attempts to form a British Militia as a national military reserve. The Militia Ballot Act allowed the aforementioned Quakers to be exempt from military service. The United States, since its very founding, has permitted conscientious objectors, though regulation of the provision was left to independent states.

Conscientious objectors are philosophically linked to the anti-war movement. Throughout history, people have protested war. The roots of the movement date back to the American Revolutionary War when British people protested against British war intervention in America, which led to the House of Commons voting against further war in America in 1783. This eventually led to the Peace of Paris.