Why did the confederacy pass the conscription acts? the army wanted to be able to reward those willing to volunteer for service in the confederate army. the army needed to establish a series of laws for appropriate behaviors for troops during the occupation of new orleans. the army wanted to curb the practice of wealthy people avoiding military service by paying poorer people to serve in their place. the army needed more people to serve in the confederate army as the number of volunteers declined and the number of casualties increased.