PREPPER PAPER #013

HISTORY of the Militia:

On October 26, 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress recommended an immediate application to the New England governments to make up the “deficiency" of armed and readied soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

“...they recommended to the militia to form themselves into companies of minute-men who should be equipped and prepared to march at the shortest notice. These minute-men were to consist of one quarter of the whole militia, to be enlisted under the direction of the field-officers, and divide into companies, consisting of at least fifty men each. The privates were to choose their captains and subalterns, and these officers were to form the companies into battalions, and chose the field-officers to command the same."

  —Massachusetts Provincial Congress 

The Revolutionary War was fought primarily with militiamen (more commonly referred to as Patriots). The American Revolutionary War began near Boston, Massachusetts with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, in which a group of local militias constituted the American side to fight the British law enforcers of King George’s tyrannical reign.

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, with consent to militias in Article VI of the Articles of former colonies now states,

“...every State shall always keep up a well-regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutered, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage.”

—Articles of Confederation

The militia is supposed to be heavily armed as evidenced in this letter from John Adams, dated August 26, 1777:

“The militia are turning out with great alacrity both in Maryland and Pennsylvania. They are distressed for want of arms. Many have none, we shall rake and scrape enough to do Howe’s business, by favor of the Heaven.”  

—John Adams to Abigail

Constitution and Bill of Rights:

The US Congress is granted the power to use the militia of the United States for three specific missions, as described in the United States Constitution Article 1, section 8, clause 15: 

"To provide for the calling of the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions."

Militia Act of 1792:

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act.”

Federal Control of the Militia

“Congress shall have the power ... to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress”

US Constitution, article 1, section 8, clause 15

“The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any Subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”

US Constitution, article II, section 2, clause 1

Militia service to thwart “the people in power.”

“Now, I am apprehensive, sir, that this clause would give an opportunity to the people in power to destroy the constitution itself. They can declare who are those religiously scrupulous, and prevent them from bearing arms. What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty.”

1 Annals of Congress at 750, 17 August 1789

…a standing army of 25,000 to 30,000 men would be offset by "a militia amounting to near a half million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves ..."

The Federalist No. 46, Madison argued:

1802

West Point was established, in part to rectify the failings of irregular training inherent in a States-based militia system.

1838

Of the state militia of Northwestern Missouri, Samuel Bogart, who had participated in former anti-Mormon vigilante groups, proceeded to disarm resident Latter-day Saints and forced them to leave the county declaring them a [antichrist principled] “mob.”

1842

“And yet, though this truth would seem so clear, and the importance of a well regulated militia would seem so undeniable, it cannot be disguised, that among the American people there is a growing indifference to any system of militia discipline, and a strong disposition, from a sense of its burdens, to be rid of all regulations.”

Joseph Story

1861

President Lincoln called up 75,000 militiamen to retake the seized Federal property (Fort Sumter) and found that the militia "strength was far short of what the Congressional statute provided and required".

Reconstruction after the Civil War

Negro militias were instituted. In parts of the South, white paramilitary groups from the Democratic party and their sponsored rifle clubs formed to counter this black militia, despite the laws prohibiting drilling, organizing, or parading except for duly authorized militia. These Democrats engaged in a prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, and hostile acts against black militiamen.

Twentieth Century:

Each state has two mandatory forces, namely the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Many states also have state defense forces and naval militia, which assist, support and augment National Guard forces.

Defense Forces:

Since the Militia Act of 1903, many states have created and maintained a reserve military force known as state defense forces (Some states refer to them as state military reserve, state guard, or foot guard). They were created to assist, support and augment National Guard forces during peacetime conditions. Also during the call up of National Guard forces for wartime deployments, state defense forces can be used to assume the full military responsibilities of the state. Their mission includes the defense of the state and the enforcement of military orders when ordered by their Governor.

Reserve Militia:

All able bodied men, 17 to 45 of age, are ultimately eligible to be called up into military service and belong to the class known as the reserve militia, also known as the unorganized militia (10 USC). Able bodied men who are not eligible for inclusion in the reserve militia pool are those aliens not having declared their intent to become citizens of the United States (10 USC 246) and former regular component veterans of the armed forces who have reached the age of 64 (32 USC 313). All female citizens who are members of National Guard units are also included in the reserve militia pool (10 USC § 246).

NOTE: Every adult is eligible to join a militia:

If you want to join a militia, join the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, or the Reserve Militia in your state of residence.

If you're between the ages of 18-30 you can join the Army National Guard or Air National Guard. If you're between the ages of 31-64 you can enlist in your state's Reserve Militia. Anyone over age 64 can volunteer to perform needed tasks for your state's Reserve Militia. 

Establish your own non-profit:

Compete the required IRS forms to establish a non-profit museum (this may take up to two years for the IRS to sign off which is normal for any non-profit application). A museum replete with military artifacts, air/sea worthy craft, ground war artifacts, shooting/artillery ranges, and life seminars to inform citizens inside your state of the role of its militia! 

“To prepare for war is one of the best means of preserving peace.”

 —George Washington

May America bless God!

Pass this on,

Professor Z PhD