The fear of a standing army drove many men in the founding generation to oppose one. By the 19th century, the cost of such an institution became a real issue, with some American leaders classifying a standing army as little more than a welfare system. By the 20th century, these critiques of a standing army had virtually disappeared, but should they? https://mcclanahanacademy.com https://brionmcclanahan.com/support http://learntruehistory.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brion-mcclanahan/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/brion-mcclanahan/support