Standing Army

Definition

A standing army refers to a permanent, professional military force that is maintained even during peacetime. It is seen as problematic by some Founding Fathers because they believed it could potentially threaten individual liberties and concentrate too much power in the hands of the government.

Related terms

Militia: A militia is a group of citizens who are not professional soldiers but can be called upon to defend their community or country in times of need.

Articles of Confederation: The Articles of Confederation were the first written constitution of the United States. They had weak federal powers and lacked a strong standing army, which led to difficulties in maintaining national security.

Federalists: The Federalists were supporters of the Constitution who argued for a stronger central government and believed that a standing army was necessary for national defense.