enacted July 17, 1862
African-Americans to participate as war laborers and soldiers
enacted July 17, 1862
African-Americans to participate as war laborers and soldiers
authority of the president to call out the militias of the several states
“whenever the United States shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion from any foreign nation or Indian tribe”
provided for the organization of the state militias. It conscripted every “free able-bodied white male citizen” between the ages of 18 and 45 into a local militia company. (This was later expanded to all males, regardless of race, between the ages of 18 and 54 in 1862.)
Militia members, referred to as “every citizen, so enrolled and notified”, “…shall within six months thereafter, provide himself…” with a musket, bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a cartridge box with 24 bullets, and a knapsack. Men owning rifles were required to provide a powder horn, ¼ pound of gunpowder, 20 rifle balls, a shooting pouch, and a knapsack
Some occupations were exempt, such as congressmen, stagecoach drivers, and ferryboatmen.
1791
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution