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The historical context is somewhat divorced from the modern interpretation (and in other respects, intimately connected). The thing to keep in mind is that the
by saalweachter 7y ago
The historical context is somewhat divorced from the modern interpretation (and in other respects, intimately connected).
The thing to keep in mind is that the U.S. Revolution was not what we would call today a grassroots movement. It was based in the pre-existing State-level representative governments. It wasn't a mob of people spontaneously deciding to take to the streets and push the bastards out, it was a functional system of government deciding to shave off the layer above.
When the States decided to switch from a looser confederation to form a more perfect Union, they wanted to keep that option open to repeat the process -- it was not originally about John Doe using his musket to chase off the local tax collector but about the State of Virginia using its own Army of Virginia to drive out anyone trying to interfere overly much in its business.
Incidentally, most States still have standing forces that report to the Governor.
- pjc50 7y ago> State of Virginia using its own Army of Virginia to drive out anyone trying to interfere overly much in its business This didn't go so well for the slave states.