The American Home Guard: The State Militia in the Twentieth CenturyTexas A&M University Press, 2002 - 319 Seiten Since colonial times Americans have used the militia to maintain local order during both war and peacetime. States have intermittently created, maintained, deployed, and disbanded countless militia organizations outside the scope of the better-known National Guard. Barry M. Stentiford tells the story of these militia units--variously called home guards, State Guard, National Guard Reserve, and State Defense Forces. Stentiford traces the evolution of the militia over the past century, demonstrating its transformation from an amalgamation of state militia units into the National Guard, a reserve of the army. Ironically, the very existence of the National Guard made the creation of other militia forces necessary during periods of war. The home guards or State Guard were organized to fill the vacuum left when the National Guard was called up, depriving states of an organized militia that could be mobilized for repelling invasions, suppressing riots, controlling strikes, or guarding the waterfront. Stentiford carefully analyzes the challenges that faced the State Guards as states sought to build their new militia with leftover men and material. He also examines the role of the State Guard: providing relief during and after natural disasters, providing military training for future draftees, and broadening participation in military units during wartime by giving a role to men who, because of their age or occupation, could not join the federal forces. The State Guard gained a new significance in the Cold War, especially as the political unpalatability of a draft and reductions in the size of the full-time military expanded the functions of the National Guard in military policy. Today modern state militias, born to an ancient tradition, must define a role for themselves in a society that increasingly views them as anachronistic. They mut also compete ideologically with so-called unorganized militias for the title of true heir to the American militia tradition. |
Inhalt
5 | |
21 | |
Postwar Adjustments | 52 |
A National Emergency | 83 |
The States Prepare for War | 98 |
America Enters World War II | 118 |
The State Guard Readies for Action | 142 |
Assuming a Greater Role | 168 |
The State Guard in the Cold War | 192 |
Total Force and the State Defense Forces | 214 |
Conclusion | 242 |
Notes | 245 |
Bibliography | 291 |
311 | |
Häufige Begriffe und Wortgruppen
active duty Adjutant Adjutants General Association Alabama American Legion Annual Report armory arms battalion began Biennial Report Boston Brig British Home Guard cadre civilian College Park commander Concord Company Corps County created Defense Force Despite disbanded Division draft drill enlisted entered federal service equipment eral federal forces federal government federal military folder Guard company Guard officers Guard Reserve Ibid induction Infantry Jerry Fogel July June 30 Korean Korean War maintained ment Military Department military forces Militia Act militia forces missions Mississippi National Archives National Defense Act National Guard Association National Guard Bureau National Guard units National Guardsmen NGA Library organized militia peacetime Period police Puerto Rico recruiting Regiment Regular Army response rifles role SDFs soldiers state's Territorial Guard Texas State Guard tion tional Guard troops uniforms veterans Virginia Volunteers War Department wartime Washington World World War II York Guard
Beliebte Passagen
Seite 19 - No State shall maintain troops in time of peace other than as authorized in accordance with the organization prescribed under this act : Provided, That nothing contained in this act shall be construed as limiting the rights of the States and Territories in the use of the National Guard within their respective borders in time of peace : Provided further, That nothing contained in this act shall prevent the organization and maintenance of State police or constabulary.
Seite 3 - April 19, 1995, the country was shocked and saddened by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and the resulting loss of life.
Seite 17 - That the Army of the United States shall consist of the Regular Army, the Volunteer Army, the Officers' Reserve Corps, the Enlisted Reserve Corps, the National Guard while in the service of the United States, and such other land forces as are now or may hereafter be authorized by law.