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HISTORY

Dissolved by 1845

The militia system was such a failure after the War of 1812 that George Bowman, in command of Pennsylvania's forces, reported to the Governor that he could not even get units of the militia to participate in public parades. Officers would do no more than call the men at 6PM, call the roll, and then dismiss therm.

Still the Militia system remained in place, unchanged, until 1903.

States dissolving compulsory militia training, in order:

  • Delaware 1829
  • Massachusetts 1840
  • Rhode Island 1843
  • Connecticut, Missouri 1847
  • Pennsylvania 1849
  • Louisiana, New Hampshire 1850

The last actions of the militia occurred in the Mexican-American War, but less than 12% of the participants were militia, as opposed to 88% in the War of 1812.