USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -What is a militia? At the time of the American Revolutionary War, militias were groups of able-bodied men who protected their towns, colonies, and eventually states. “[When the Constitution was drafted], the militia was a state-based institution, ” says Rakove. “States were responsible for organizing this."

Detailed explanation-2: -What was the militia? The militia was a part time army in colonial Massachusetts responsible for the colony’s defense. Every town was expected to maintain at least one company (approx. 60 men) commanded by a captain.

Detailed explanation-3: -The ranks of the colonial militia were usually filled by average citizens. They came from all walks of life and different ethnic groups. Many of them were native-born colonists, British immigrants, as well as free blacks.

Detailed explanation-4: -During colonial America, all able-bodied men of a certain age range were members of the militia, depending on each colony’s rule. Individual towns formed local independent militias for their own defense.