MILITARY

Think about this:  during our Revolutionary War, we had no way to pay our soldiers (fighting men) because we had no country and no federal government.  There were articles of confederation between the  states but no way to collect taxes.  Some states collected their own taxes but not all.  This was a problem.  What farmer or farm worker could afford to go off to war without pay?

Solution to the problem:  The wealthiest landowners were selected to be officers in the new army.  They could not only afford to be away for a time but could afford to feed the men under their command.  As a result, our army was made up of state militias.  

It wasn't much of a plan but it worked - it was enough to defeat the largest army in the world at that time. 

God Bless America!

Happy Birthday Amy