Changes

Minutemen service was more regularized and formal than service in the volunteer companies. But the new rules, strict hierarchies, class-based officer appointments, and ranked-based pay scales of the Virginia minutemen did not attract small farmers who had become accustomed to relaxed discipline and the popular election of officers. By the fall of 1775 the minutemen service's unpopularity was widespread and well known, revealing a division in Virginia society between 'those dictating the terms upon which the colony would fight and those expected to bear the brunt of those terms.' Because of the failure of the minutemen, Virginia was forced to abandon the concept of the citizen-soldier and to depend on traditional paid full-time soldiers.<ref> Michael A.  McDonnell, "Popular Mobilization and Political Culture in Revolutionary Virginia: The Failure of the Minutemen and the Revolution from Below" ''Journal of American History'' 1998 85(3): 946-981 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2567217  in JSTOR]</ref>

Minutemen service was more regularized and formal than service in the volunteer companies. But the new rules, strict hierarchies, class-based officer appointments, and ranked-based pay scales of the Virginia minutemen did not attract small farmers who had become accustomed to relaxed discipline and the popular election of officers. By the fall of 1775 the minutemen service's unpopularity was widespread and well known, revealing a division in Virginia society between 'those dictating the terms upon which the colony would fight and those expected to bear the brunt of those terms.' Because of the failure of the minutemen, Virginia was forced to abandon the concept of the citizen-soldier and to depend on traditional paid full-time soldiers.<ref> Michael A.  McDonnell, "Popular Mobilization and Political Culture in Revolutionary Virginia: The Failure of the Minutemen and the Revolution from Below" ''Journal of American History'' 1998 85(3): 946-981 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2567217  in JSTOR]</ref>

==Image and memory==

==Image and memory==

The Minute Men became iconic heroes of patriotism and civic duty in terms of American [[Republicanism]].  In 1860-61 Minutemen companies organized hurriedly in amny states as the Civ=il War loomed.

The Minute Men became iconic heroes of patriotism and civic duty in terms of American [[Republicanism]].  In 1860-61 Minutemen companies organized hurriedly in many states as the Civil War loomed.

Early accounts celebrated American heroism against British barbarism and saw the dawning of democracy in the egalitarian army of minutemen commoners.<ref> John McWilliams, "Lexington, Concord, and the 'Hinge Of The Future'" ''American Literary History'' 1993 5(1): 1-29 [http://alh.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/citation/5/1/1 online]</ref>

Early accounts celebrated American heroism against British barbarism and saw the dawning of democracy in the egalitarian army of minutemen commoners.<ref> John McWilliams, "Lexington, Concord, and the 'Hinge Of The Future'" ''American Literary History'' 1993 5(1): 1-29 [http://alh.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/citation/5/1/1 online]</ref>