Motivation

The reasons for the soldiers to join in the army back then was because they wanted to get paid, seeked adventure, everyone else was going, or loyalty to the country. People today, who also join the army, are mostly because they want to serve for their country or for the money that they need. There is a similarity and difference between the motivations to join back then and to join now. Back then it to fight for something that's important to you or just because you were bored, but today rarely that happens. They're similar because people back then and now still join to serve their country and for the money.  I wouldn't join the army because I don't think I'll be able to survive in the army, but I look up to those who do join the army. If I had to choose whether to join the army back then for the Civil War, I probably wouldn't because I'm not brave enough to fight on a battlefield where weapons can kill you and I don't really have a motivation that can get me to risk my life.