Cover reveal for “The Citizen Militias of the United States” by Gerald Van Slyke Ph.D.
Now available!
Citizen Militias began life as a Doctor’s Dissertation in 2016. Much of the academic-speak has been deleted for easier reading. What remains is a review of the establishment and development of the British and American militias as well as a discussion of the Common Law and some of the Constitutional guidelines and statutory laws that govern them. (See Appendix B for an account of the British Militia through the ages.) When settlers first migrated to the British North American colonies, they brought the English Common Law and the British Militia with them. Just as the British Militia had evolved over the centuries, so did its American counterpart. This is that story.
The modern day American Militia traces its roots back to 793 CE, when the Viking sack of Lindisfarne prompted the Saxon kings of Britain, especially Alfred (the Great) to rethink the ‘Fyrd,’ or tribal militias, and begin making changes to improve their success rate in the field. Centuries of development followed, both statutory and Common Law changes kept the militia current. Settlers in the British North American colonies brought the Common Law and the militia with them. Current federal statute provides that every male citizen is born into the militia, and between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, is subject to call-up. As a result of distortion by the mass media, many today consider the militia little more than criminal gangs. History and statute both disagree with that outlook. The truth lies in a different direction.
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