Politics and the Evolution of the Army Reserve

<p>This thesis examines failed attempts to create an effective federally controlled militia from 1790 until 1920. From the time President Washington and Henry Knox failed to persuade the Continental Congress to establish a federally controlled militia in 1790 numerous military and political leaders over the next 150 years repeated similar efforts only to be denied by the political environment in Congress. Attempts to rectify war and peacetime deficiencies in the state militia by the War Department and political leaders first met with ideological protests concerned with the impediment of states' rights and the threat of a large standing army controlled by a central government. These concerns gradually became political rhetoric utilized by political supporters of the National Guard including lobby groups led by the National Guard Association.</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><br>