Life in the early settlements of Colonial America was by no means easy. The weather was harsh and brutal with the settlers cutoff from the safety of Europe. The colonists were also adamant that the New World was a gift from God, and therefore, the sentiments and beliefs of the Native Americans were of little or no concern. Not surprisingly, however, the Native Americans did not approve of such an attitude, and as the settlements of the colonists grew, so too did the violence between the two cultures. In order to protect themselves the settlers built strongholds and formed militias.
Forming the Colonial Militias
The defense of the colonial village was an essential aspect of the colonies, and the colonial governments enacted laws to ensure that each home carried at least a single firearm. This was for both the defense of the individual family, and the village as a whole. Individual farms and homesteads were frowned upon as they were easy targets for Native American raids. Villages, centered around a meetinghouse, were preferred and encouraged. These villages often had outposts and small watchtowers, as well as at least one garrison.
The villages, thus, were defense minded and centralized around communal welfare. Protection of the community was a shared burden. The colonial community was painfully aware that they lived under a constant threat of Native American attack, and for this reason, then, they enacted compulsory military service in order to ensure the safety and the survival of the colonial communities. This, in turn, led to the formation of militia units.
Defense of the Colonies
The compulsory service provided by militia members required obedience, as in any military organization. Those who refused or neglected their military responsibilities not only endangered themselves, but the welfare of their individual villages. The defense of the community outweighed the needs, rights, and desires of the individual, and neglectful militia members could be fined and jailed for failing in their responsibilities.
As the communities of 17th century British colonies in New England formed, they trained their militias and built defenses, turning each village into an armed camp to survive attacks. Like the militaries which they had left behind in the Old World of Western Europe, the British colonials in 17th century New England trained in the aspects of massed fire, quick response, and strict obedience to an officer’s commands, all of which served them well when fighting from a prepared defensive position in their village.
Sources
Ferling, John. "The New England Soldier : A Study in Changing Perceptions." American Quarterly vol. 33, no. 1 (Spring, 1981): 26-45.
Chet, Guy, Conquering the American Wilderness : The Triumph of European Warfare in The Colonial Northeast. Amherst : University of Massachusetts Press, 2003.
Caverly, Robert B. Heroism of Hannah Duston : Together with the Indian Wars of NewEngland. Maryland : Heritage Books, Inc., 1990.
Nicholas Efstathiou - My name is Nicholas E. Efstathiou and I have a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and a Master's in Military History. I have had a ...
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