The New Student's Reference Work/Minute Men

Min′ute Men. This is a name which has been applied to the disaffected American colonists who, as the Revolutionary War approached, took a pledge to take up arms if given “a minute's notice” only. The Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 passed an act which provided for the enrolment of such minute men. For war purposes their readiness and promptness were of the greatest importance as a guarantee of the nucleus of an army, even from the outset of hostilities.