Find more facts and information on our topic page about
militia
militia
militia A military force composed of citizens, enlisted or conscripted in times of emergency, usually for local defence. In England, it developed during the Middle Ages from the Anglo-Saxon fyrd. Its forces were usually raised by impressment (forcible recruiting), and until the 16th century it was supervised by the local sheriff. Then the Lord Lieutenants were given the responsibility until the later 19th century.
Modern militias fulfil a variety of roles. Although generally restricted to infantry or light-armoured roles on land, in certain cases (for example, the US National Guard), they are deployed in air and coastal defence. Such countries as Israel, Switzerland, the former Yugoslavia, and Sweden have based much of their defence planning on the use of militia units, and people's militias were a feature of former communist states, such as East Germany and Czechoslovakia. Militia forces can also play an important role in internal conflicts, where they may be raised and controlled by factions; in such cases, the dividing line between militia and
GUERRILLA forces can be blurred.
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
Militias: initiating contact.
Magazine article from: The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin; 7/1/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...constitutional guarantees. Militia members generally...and actions. Many militias claim to represent...Various present-day militias pattern their actions...their calling, militia members and antigovernment...them. Still, many militia members and individuals...Many organized militias ...
|
|
Militias: Initiating contact
Magazine article from: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin; 7/1/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...constitutional guarantees. Militia members generally...and actions. Many militias claim to represent...Various present-day militias pattern their actions...their calling, militia members and antigovernment...them. Still, many militia members and individuals...Many organized militias ...
|
|
Militias decry ATF arrests as a `setup': Says Vipers are not part of movement.(A)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 7/15/1996; ; 700+ words
; ...Trochmann, an organizer of the Militia of Montana, said the militias see the two cases as part of...and publicly linked to the militia movement. "It [the Viper...said. Relations between the militias and the government on the Viper...
|
|
Militias Meet the Senate With Conspiracies to Share; Leaders Sound Off on Oklahoma, Citizen Anger
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 6/16/1995; ; 700+ words
; ...James Johnson, a militia leader from Columbus...to do?" He called militias "the civil rights...frightening," said Ohio militia leader Johnson, one...down." Michigan militia leader Ken Adams said militias are "a cross- section...
|
|
|
Militias Flexing More Muscle in the Political Process
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 5/1/1995; ; 700+ words
; ...example of the spreading militia movement's increased...political activities of the militias appear to be amateurish...provided access and help to militia leaders. Freshman Rep...associate of Michigan Militia member Mark Koernke...doesn't know these militias," said attorney Kent...
|
 "Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)")
|
Militias hold Iraq in fearsome grip.
Newspaper article from: Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL); 10/19/2006; 700+ words
; ...cleric. The Sunni militias are more fractured...identity. Another Shiite militia, the Badr Brigade...face in disbanding militias--and the militias have to be disbanded...parliamentarians say that the militia problem is the result...
|
|
Our militia: brainwashed by the regulars.
Magazine article from: Esprit de Corps; 11/1/1997; ; 700+ words
; ...officer in Northwest Europe, "our current militia is completely brainwashed by the Regular...LCol, not retired, claiming, "the militia never retires." He contends that the Honourary Colonels of Militia units should not be required to go before...
|
|
FBI, militias reach some common ground Program helps distinguish law-abiding members from hate groups, both sides say
Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 7/18/1999; ; 700+ words
; ...trouble." Federal agents and militia members say the outreach program...distinguish true constitutional militia members from hate groups and...the public perception that militias are "anti-government...groups, they claim to be a militia. The media gets ahold of it...
|
 "Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)")
|
MILITIAS' HOSTILE PATTERNS TROUBLE FEDERAL OFFICIALS.(MAIN)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 4/28/1995; 700+ words
; ...groups.'' Experts say the militia movement has spread like a...Federal officials believe some militias are monitoring them as well...federal authorities. Some militias may also be aided by law enforcement...themselves were involved with militia groups, according to law enforcement...
|
|
|
Revived naval militia could have varied roles
Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 11/4/2001; ; 700+ words
; Revived naval militia could have varied roles By JESSICA HANSEN...World War II, Wisconsin may have a naval militia, capable of everything from responding...mentoring children. Efforts to reinstate the militia moved forward last week when the state...
|
|
Militias
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of American History
...royal governors. The militia formed a major portion...as often, however, militias proved unreliable...famous lament about the militia in 1776: "They come...understanding of how to use militias as auxiliary and partisan...military concerns, the militia played an important...
|
|
The Militia
Book article from: American Eras
...were not so much in militia makeup as in the...realities in which the militias existed. For example...variation among militias, time did as well...time progressed, militia needs changed...that occupied the militias by the 1750s. The...seventeenth-century militia consisted mainly...
|
|
Militia and National Guard
Book article from: The Oxford Companion to American Military History
...subsequently state militia systems have played...colonial and state militias raised the majority...after 1775 state militias generally failed...Continental army. Militia units called to...its own. Without militias to organize men...Continental army. The militia remained the source...
|
|
|
Militia Movement
Dictionary entry from: Dictionary of American History
...bombers to the Michigan Militia, the militia movement combined conspiracy...activity. Ideologically, militias are an offshoot of the...and elsewhere. Some militia members engaged in confrontations...Arrests involving militias had a dampening effect...
|
|
militia
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...his civilian status. Militias persisted through the...America, however, militias survived. The Military...Massachusetts was the first militia organization in America...other countries the militia is known generally as...on self-appointed "militias" or, as they often...
|
