16070 - Colonial Militia Standing Ready No.2

Colonial Militia Standing Ready, No.2

As early as 1645 the Massachusetts Bay Colony required all able-bodied men aged 16 to 60 to participate in the local militia. These non-professional fighting organizations were trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies. During the French and Indian War they helped stem the French threat, and in fact, gain territories for Britain. Due to taxes levied by Parliament to help pay for the war, and the limitations of westward expansion, friction between The Crown and the Colonies increased. This increased tension led to a scramble for control of militia stores by British forces, which in turn led to the British Regulars’ expedition for the supplies at Concord which ultimately led to revolution.