Editing Conscientious objector (section)

==History==
{{Further|Anti-war movement}}
[[File:The Deserter.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''The Deserter'' by [[Boardman Robinson]], ''[[The Masses]]'', 1916]]
Many conscientious objectors have been executed, imprisoned, or otherwise penalized when their beliefs led to actions conflicting with their society's legal system or government. The legal definition and status of conscientious objection has varied over the years and from nation to nation. Religious beliefs were a starting point in many nations for legally granting conscientious objector status.

The earliest recorded conscientious objector, [[Maximilian of Tebessa|Maximilianus]], was conscripted into the Roman Army in the year 295, but "told the Proconsul in Numidia that because of his religious convictions he could not serve in the military". He was executed for this, and was later canonized as Saint Maximilian.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/ConscientiousObjection_en.pdf |title=Conscientious objection to military service |author=The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=2012}}</ref>

An early recognition of conscientious objection was granted by [[William the Silent]] to the Dutch [[Mennonite]]s in 1575. They could refuse military service in exchange for a monetary payment.<ref name="co">{{Cite book |first1=Robert Paul |last1=Churchill |chapter=Conscientious Objection |editor=Donald K. Wells |title=An Encyclopedia of War and Ethics |publisher=Greenwood Press |date=1996 |isbn=0313291160 |pages=99–102 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofwa0000unse_z7e9/page/98/mode/2up}}</ref>

Formal legislation to exempt objectors from fighting was first granted in mid-18th-century [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] following problems with attempting to force [[Religious Society of Friends|Quakers]] into military service. In 1757, when the first attempt was made to establish a [[Militia (Great Britain)|British Militia]] as a professional national military reserve, a clause in the [[Militia Ballot Act 1757]] allowed Quakers exemption from military service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/171|title=Conscientious Objection}}</ref>

In the [[United States]], conscientious objection was permitted from the country's founding, although regulation was left to individual states prior to the introduction of [[conscription]].<ref name="co" />