Lessons Learned From History

<p>Homeland defense is a basic function of our government and has been since the colonial era. Over 100 years before our Constitution established as a fundamental responsibility of government to provide for the common defense American colonial leaders recognized the need for a homeland defense capability and established colonial militias to fight both internal and external threats. As the U.S. grew in economic and political power our homeland defense needs changed as well. By the 20th century homeland defense encompassed not only defense of U.S. territory and population but overseas possessions access to critical lines of communication natural resources and trade. The Cold War again qualitatively and quantitatively changed the concept of homeland defense.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>