Martial Law in the United States: How Likely is it, and What will happen under Martial law?

The march towards martial law is something that is often ignored by the general public, often labeled as Quackery or something belonging on conspiracy websites. But what’s happening in this country is exactly what our founders warned us about, and martial law is something they took very, very seriously.

What is martial law?

If you’re looking for a definition, then Martial Law basically means using state or national military force to enforce the will of the government on the people.

Under a declaration of martial law, Constitutional freedoms and liberties are suspended, and civilians are no longer entitled to their civil rights. It basically allows the government, or a tyrannical politician, to shred the Constitution and impose its will through military force.

History of Martial Law in the United States of America

“Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”
Winston Churchill

In one way or another, there have always been tyrants who have used the power of government to suppress and control the public. But if we are looking for specific examples of Martial Law being used inside the United States, we don’t have to look very hard or far to find them.

Using the strictest definition of the term, we can see the roots of martial law in America take hold during the lead up to the Revolutionary war. Although there were many reasons for the war, including resistance to taxes imposed by the British parliament, the main catalyst was England’s decision to use military troops to enforce everyday law throughout the colonies.

The beginning of the end? The Civil War Ushers in a Strong Central Government through Martial Law Enforcement

Civil War Soldiers

Flash forward a hundred years, and many of the most egregious examples of martial law can be found throughout the civil war. While today’s history books largely ignore the real reasons for the war or the many atrocities committed by President Lincoln, the facts of what really happened cannot be disputed.

The reason we have lost so many of our liberties can be tied directly to the civil war.

On September 15, 1863, President Lincoln imposed Congressionally-authorized martial law. While history contends the war was fought to end slavery, the truth is, Lincoln by his own admission never really cared about freeing slaves. In fact, Lincoln never intended to abolish slavery, his main interest was centralizing government power and using the federal government to exert complete control over all citizens. The abolishment of slavery was only a byproduct of the war. It actually took the 13th amendment to end slavery, since Lincoln actually only freed Southern slaves, not slaves in states loyal to the Union.

During the Civil War, Lincoln continually violated the Constitution, in some cases suspending the entire Constitution that he swore to uphold.  

  • He suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus without the consent of congress.
  • He shut down newspapers whose writers displayed any dissent to Union policy or spoke out against him.
  • He raised troops without the consent of Congress.
  • He closed courts by force.
  • He even imprisoned citizens, newspaper owners,and elected officials without cause and without a trial.

Our founders were very wary of using the military to enforce public policy, and concerns about this type of abuse date back to, and largely influenced, the creation of the Constitution. The founders continually warned about using military force to uphold law and order; unfortunately, most Americans are rather ignorant of history and are even more ignorant to what our founders intended when they created the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

What will happen under Martial law?

Military Style SWAT Team Raid

The actual words martial law will probably never be used.

The first thing you will likely see is a declaration of a “State of Emergency” — we witnessed this first hand during the so-called COVID pandemic. This may be done nationally, in cases of war or a large-scale terrorist attacks; or it may happen locally, as witnessed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

In August of 2005, New Orleans was declared a disaster area and a state of emergency was declared by the governor. This allowed state officials to order evacuations and forcefully remove residents from their homes, suspend certain laws, confiscate firearms, and suspend the sale of items like liquor, firearms, and ammunition.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans police, the U.S. Marshals office, and the Louisiana National Guard forcibly confiscated over 1,000 legal firearms from law-abiding citizens.

Depending on the reasons behind the declaration you may also see:

  • The suspension of the Constitution, probably starting with the first and second amendment.
  • Confiscation of firearms; it has happened and it will happen again.
  • Suspension of Habeas corpus: Imprisonment without due process and without a trial.
  • Travel Restrictions, including road closures and possibly, even quarantine zones.
  • Mandatory Curfews and Mandatory Identification.
  • Automatic search and seizures without a warrant.

When can Martial Law be enacted?

Military Force

When Martial Law can be enacted is a pretty touchy subject, largely because our founders never intended the federal government or a standing army be permitted to take such actions. Unfortunately, most people accept these unconstitutional activities and are more than willing to give up their essential liberties in exchange for peace of mind and not having to think for themselves.

This is something Benjamin Franklin warned about when he famously wrote,
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

How likely is martial law in the United States?

Let’s face it, this country is a ticking time bomb. From widespread social unrest, crime, and violence to a growing national debt which includes an entire subset of our population that depends on government assistance to exist, the writing is on the wall: Trouble is Coming.

Riots in the Streets of America

In my opinion, we are already under a form of martial law. The founders never intended standing armies policing the citizens of the United States; sadly that is exactly what we have.

Drones, armored vehicles with high power weapons, tanks, and battlefield helicopters are no longer something that you see on some foreign battlefield; it’s now standard operating procedure at police stations throughout the country. Our federal government has poured billions of dollars into militarizing and taking over our country’s local police forces, in what can only be described as a domestic military force or standing army meant to enforce federal law.

President Bush Expands Martial Law Authority

George Bush Signing Homeland Security Bill

On September 29, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122). The law expanded the President’s authority to declare Martial Law under revisions to the Insurrection Act and actually allowed the President to take charge of National Guard troops without state governor authorization.

While certain aspects of the bill were rolled back in 2008, President Obama used the 2012 NDAA to further strengthen the Executive offices ability to declare Martial Law and added provisions that would allow military troops to detain U.S. citizens without a trial.

President Obama Forms National Police Task Force; Uses Social unrest as Justification.

Obama Signing Bill

In March of 2015, the Obama administration put together a task force that outlined rules for our nation’s police.

In his Task Force on 21st-century policing report, he outlined the formation of a National Policing Practices and Accountability Division within the federal government. The report went on to describe how the Department of Homeland Security could be used to “ensure that community policing tactics in state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies are incorporated into their role in homeland security.”

Increasing number of Joint Police/Military Drills are using American Citizens as Theoretical Threats.

From the Jade Helm Military drills that classified Texas and Utah as hostile zones, to National Guard troops in California using crisis actors to portray “right-wing” U.S. citizens in their training exercises, over the last couple of decades there has been a growing number of military-style drills that are portraying American citizens as the perceived threat.

Military Style Police Force

Back in 2012, an army report about the future use of the military as a police force within the United States looked at theoretical situations where the U.S. Army could be used against Tea Party “insurrectionists” who take over U.S. cities. During that same time period, the Department of Homeland Security released a report titled, “Hot Spots of Terrorism and Other Crimes in the United States,” where they outlined who the federal government sees as the largest terrorist threat in the country – that threat was U.S. citizens with extreme “right-wing” views.

The United Stated of America that our Founders created is gone; it’s been replaced by a system that has grown so powerful that most people don’t even realize they’ve become enslaved by that very system.

So how likely is Martial Law in the United States? Well, in some form it’s already here; unfortunately, most people choose to ignore the reality of the situation. That being said, to see it fully enacted we will likely first see a major crisis – either real or manufactured – something like a large-scale terror attack, war with a rogue nation, or a “major pandemic” disease outbreak.

Martial Law Preparedness Resources:

  • Prepper 101: Your Survival Guide to Getting Started: General preparedness guidelines that will help during any crisis or long-term survival situation.
  • Bugout Planning: During martial law, it’s likely that most routes of travel will be severely restricted making bugging out something you need to think about well ahead of time.
  • Pandemics and How to Prepare for a Pandemic Outbreak: We list this here because it’s one disaster situation that has the potential to scare the entire populace into accepting some form of martial law, quarantine, and military checkpoints.
  • Emergency Communication Preparedness Checklist: During times of crisis, especially a martial law situation, uncensored information will be hard to come by. In all likelihood, you will see a sort of digital quarantine on top of the physical barriers with information on the internet and digital airwaves controlled by the government. You need to have a plan to get unfiltered news and information from trusted sources.
  • Best Emergency Food: The Top Survival Food Supplies: During any type of disaster you need to make sure you have adequate supplies on hand, including food, water, medical supplies, and self-defense supplies.
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27 Comments

    • PYHOOYA to let your single brain cell get some oxygen. There is high probability the queer, Muslim, liar-in-chief at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC will fabricate a ‘National Emergency’ to round up people to fill the 800+ FEMA camps with sheeple like you that refuse to believe all the markings in society are leading toward Martial Law. When it happens 35,000 guillotines will be pulled out of storage and the rail cars equipped with shackles will roll as they are filled with FEMA campers.

  1. Please correct your spelling! T-r-i-a-l not Trail. They mean two totally different things. The misspelling takes away from the.

  2. Something bad is definitely coming. The problem is there isn’t a damn thing we can do about it. It sucks, but this is the world we live in. I’ve been seeing it building for awhile now, and if you just watch the news (which is full of lies hiding the true agenda) you can see where it’s all heading, and it’s not good. Just like a scared kid, I feel compelled to say “I want to go home,” the problem is I am home.

  3. What is a single mother, and only parent, to an 8yr old little boy to do? I thought I was helping by raising a smart, caring, moral, peaceful, young man to give to society. A young man that will have 13yrs of aerospace engineering education under his belt ATLEAST if not more by high school graduation. I was focused on the bigger picture of raising the next generation to be better people. Now… Now what? Do you realize how many of us feel so lost and scared ?

  4. Americans deserve to have martial law imposed on them! This will be awesome to see! The entitled disrepectful populace deserve to be cowed by their government! You only need to look on Youtube to see how disrespectful Americans are to the police and authority, coupled with the insanity of their insistence in retaining rather than encouraging and supporting their president in his bid to repeal the 2nd Ammendment,,,Americans desrve the mayhem thats coming to them and the rest of the world is watching with amazement at their entitled stupidity in failing to do anything purposeful to prevent it!

    • Amazing how you don’t think this will come to your country also Lamont? New World Order not united states order. were the only thing stopping it from coming to you better pray we win.

    • And you do realize that not every American is like this right? I am a single mother, recently divorced, working my ass off to take care of my daughter. I don’t have time to “disrespect authority”. I have more adult things to do like put a roof over my daughter’s head.

  5. Every Man and Woman who has served or is serving our country in both the military and law enforcement has taken a life long oath to uphold and defend the constitution. So if you believe that these people (myself included) will be the ones kicking in your doors you are mistaken. We above all (the 3 percent) will be the defenders not the aggressors. As stated earlier it will be outside forces ie. the UN or hired guns. We Will stand to the end defending this country from tyrants both foreign and domestic!! Semper Fi Brothers and sisters!!

  6. Yeap with all this killing BLM movement .and more and more killing everyday. It’s only matter of time before u bummer declares MARTILL LAW . Then we can really cry. We playing right into Obummer hand. Thats what he wants to play the Blacks against the Whites that give him a reason to declare M.L. then we have him for many more yrs. Because there want be a presidential election under ML. And that’s what he want then the next thing that going to happen is sharia law and that’s what that muslim bummer wants. People we need to stop all this killing of blacks and whites.

  7. How has it happened, that everything that made this country, the great one that it once was before the mid 1980’s has been allowed to happen. Where has all of this politically correct crap come from. This country ran pretty God damn good for over 210 years. Ya know ever since the Reagan years expired all the newer generations can concern them selves with is being buddy buddy with all of the people from other countries,don’t really give a shit about all of the things that us older generations struggled and fought for to make this country great at one time. I’m willing to bet that a good percentage of you people would not survive fighting in a war or a great depression. The politicians in Washington have allowed this country to become too SOFT. Mr. Trump & the people who follow him & believe in what he want’s to do, have got the right mind set to get this country back on the right track to the strength it once had.

  8. Read Executive Order 13603 signed by the Potus on March of 2012. You will be in shock;

    Under Martisl Law:

    1) no more private property (communism)
    2) must work in what the government assigns you without compensation (slavery) amongbother things.

    WOW! Only one big terrorist attack or more agitations provoked by the interested party, and our country, in just one night, will turn socialist/communist

  9. As a graduate of Political Science, an attorney and studying and research of the bipartisanship of Congress, I can only say that this article, and many of the comments, are a complete twist of the facts. It’s called a “spin job” and one that can manipulate a person’s comprehension of the truth. In other words, it’s how Hitler got his Nazi party to be successful – of course, before the bombs began dropping. It’s also how most Americans are being forced to view politics in the 2016 elections.

  10. It is a shame that all you “creationists” think that praying and leaving it to Jesus and “end times” are what we need to worry about… Your bible was written by men just like all others, and the Quran, and the Book of Mormon, etc. Can anyone open their eyes and see science and not a control mechanism called religion that has been used to control us for centuries. We are biological creatures and no, your God did not make us all perfect, so no… can’t put stock in that. We come just as close to being dropped here by aliens as arriving via the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve. I’ve had religion shoved down my throat, and that process did not make me a better person.

      • Who or what is god? Heaven is the brain. god lives in heaven which is the mind. What good is a god (mind) without “thought” (the son of god)? What good is the son of god (thought) without expression? Expression (the wholy ghost via breath and vocal cords) allows the existance of God. No human can escape that fact.

  11. God bless America and DONT MESS WITH TEXAS because I promise you everything’s bigger in Texas including our gun safe

  12. All this rheticoral talk about Marshall Law and how those who believe it is coming is full of s**t. I too believe it is coming and has been part of a great plan of Obama’s. It does not offend me for any one of you to say I am full of it, or I am crazy to think that, or any other harsh words inclucing profanity. If it does not happen, I will stand up and shout to the world of my stupidity and ignorance and gladly admit I was wrong, BECAUSE I WILL BE CELEBRATING THE FREEDOM OF AMERICA!!!!! But at least I am mentally prepared with my expectactions now of what is going to be even tho I have no clue what to do but at 68 years old, I will put up a fight, if and when I have to……. I suggest to all those who disbelieve to seriously do some reading and think very very hard because only God knows for sure what the events will be b4 it happens (aside from the ones who are making the plans to ensure it is enforced).

  13. While this isn’t conspiracy theory material. It’s also not accurate material, it doesn’t take into account how your nations national treasury can even sustain a ruse like debt. Then magically do a 360 and call in martial law, for such law to pass you need a deficit of billions if not trillions. If true this could mean two things one US never was a sovereign nation and its plutocratic mind games stating it as being a democratic state have been a lie. Two the MAN has been or is in fact autocratic by nature, default or your so called NWO theory.

    I like to think of politics as the science of taking other peoples money. This is why you don’t vote with your wallet, in many ways it’s your own fault America reap what you sow.

  14. Am a Vietnam Veteran that will give a fight should Martial Law were to be imposed. I know I might have my rights violated but, just like when I fought at Vietnam will protect my country against fourgen and domestic. God bell us all.

    • I don’t know how but America needs and will be punished by God for immorality, abortion on demand, corruption, homosexuality etc etc etc.

      Since Roe v Wade 1973 60 million plus unborn children have been killed like animals with knives and scissors in Planned Parenthood Human Slaughter Houses and elsewhere in the disguise of liberal democrat Pro Choice.

      We all need to pray to God to reverse this tragedy in America.

  15. Black lives matter, but all lives matter, when they come knocking on our doors removing us from our homes and taking our guns from us, are you still going to be holding your race card? Or talking about how Muslim our president is? Who cares. What does matter is that we have a great country still, our government isn’t america, the good ole boys fighting beside us are america! Whether your black, white, Mexican, any race, what matter is the safety of us and our brothers. You can bet your sorry ass I’m not going to be walking in a straight line giving up my freedoms. We have no reason to be afraid, God has got us, God has prepared us for this, and ignoring it or being afraid isnt going to make anything better, just as ignoring these crimes against civilians hasn’t, or all the riots. Screw rioting! Did they riot or scream black lives matter in the past and history is yet again repeating itself. There are militias, or amazing citizens all over this country and they are ready. Are you ready? I got three little ones to protect and I’m sure as hell not gonna be evacuated and have their food and liberties rationed. So I say if it happens, and it is happening folks. Wake up and smell the roses, stop fighting each other and start fighting who needs to be fought, may God be with you all. And may we all go out with our boots on. I hope you and your families stay safe.

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