>> are we really in the same position? i want to understand how those events of 200 years ago are driving our current history so i've come to the banks of the river rezin in michigan where america once battled british forces to meet with professor woody houlton an expert on colonial america. what was the militia? >> it was the law. every free white male had to be in it. you were required to own a musket and meet once a month on a saturday with the other militiamen from your district. they were similar to a regular army in that they're supposed to be trained and ready. >> our early militia was mostly focused on skirmishes with native americans and putting down slave rebellions but in 1776 colonists declared independence from british tyranny. washington created an army, and the militia joined the fight. >> it is not an exaggeration to say that militiamen played a really important role in winning