Which Organization Is the True Heir to the State Militia of The American Revolution? The National Guard or State Defense Force?

We have a different article to present you today, a op-ed from the renown Professor Barry Stentiford, author of the most popular State Defense Force book, The American Home Guard, which you can find on Amazon – Click Here To Check It Out. As we are in the midst of The 250th Anniversary of The American Revolution some of us have wondered which branch of The State Militia are the True Heir To The State Militia that fought and won The American Revolution. This op-ed explores that question by tracing the historical, legal, and constitutional evolution of the militia, challenging modern assumptions while explaining which institutions legitimately inherit that legacy today.

This op-ed examines a question that is often asked but rarely answered with historical and legal precision: who, if anyone, can legitimately claim to be the modern descendant of the American militia of the Revolutionary and Civil War eras. Rather than advancing a simplistic argument that crowns a single institution as the “true” heir, the piece walks readers through the evolution of the colonial and early national militia system, from its compulsory, community-based roots to the rise of volunteer militia companies and their eventual transformation into modern military organizations. It explores how the National Guard emerged from nineteenth-century volunteer militia traditions, how State Defense Forces and longstanding ceremonial militia units fit within that same lineage, and why self-formed paramilitary groups fall outside the historical and constitutional definition of militia. By grounding the discussion in constitutional provisions, federal legislation, and state practice, the op-ed clarifies what the militia once was, what it is today, and why the original militia ideal no longer exists in its colonial form while showing that several modern institutions remain legitimate heirs to its volunteer tradition.

If you are interested in participating in the coming historical events that celebrate The 250th Anniversary of The American Revolution we recommend checking out:

• American Battlefield Trust Events
  • They have taken on the incredible mission of securing American Revolution battlefields from commercial or residential development and turning the land over to The Park Service so Americans can revisit these historical pieces of ground.
• National Park Service Events That Commemorate The 250th Anniversary of The American Revolution- Click Here
• Or if you are interested in strategy gaming, one of our staff members is developing a 250th Anniversary PC Game that will put you in the boots of George Washington during some of the famous battles of The American Revolution.
  • The Glorious Cause: The Battles of The American Revolution is available on Patreon and soon The Steam Game Store – Click Here To Check It Out

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