Posted on 06/17/2021 11:21:56 PM PDT by ammodotcom
The United States militia is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the Constitution. And while the militia movement of today is widely known, its history – and the history of independent Constitutional militias stretching back to the dawn of the republic – is far less well known.
Why does this matter nowadays? Because understanding the historical roots of America's militias helps modern-day members appreciate the role they play in our federal system of government. Because since inception, militias have been tasked with stopping those who hold public office from exceeding their authority or those seeking to enact legislation outside of their operating charter – a crucial check against incremental encroachment by the state, as James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers on January 29, 1788:
"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of."
The militia is the final means of recourse in this cycle of self-government – and arguably the most important. Thus this is the first in a two-part historical series on America's militias. The second part, American Militias after the Civil War: From Black Codes to the Black Panthers and Beyond, looks at additional changes this American institution underwent from Reconstruction onwards.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammo.com ...
Should have begun this history capsule 100+ years earlier. Militias were the ONLY viable military force in the colonies up to the time of the French and Indian War. Thus the long held tradition of eschewing standing armies.
Despite the wishes of the Framers, a well trained and equipped professional army is all that stands between us and our many enemies.
Bkmk
True, true – but the Army isn’t going to protect us from our own government.
The militia were useful when used with their limitations kept in mind.
Some formations, like the minute companies of “regular” militia regiments could be very useful indeed.
The militia at Concord Bridge gave a very good account of themselves.
Similarly, John Stark’s troops at Bunker Hill, also militia saved the main position from being flanked and covered the withdrawal, while under fire, of the main army.
See retired US General John Galvin’s book on the subject.
Those first militia members were more committed revolutionaries than the folks later. As supplies dwindled, or the weather went bad, or the British numbers grew, the militias became even more unreliable and skittish.
War - actual, sustained war - requires reliability, uniform weaponry, detailed training - team building - and well established and dependable logistics flow.
An assortment of overweight and slightly trained amateurs, wearing surplus store camouflage and armed with whatever they show up with will not last long
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