45. Which of the following best describes the minutemen? A. Fewer in numbers than the opposition
B. British
C. Non-professional
D. Highly trained

Minutemen were civilian colonists who independently formed militia companies self-trained in weaponry, tactics, and military strategies, comprising the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They were known for being ready at a minute's notice, hence the name.[1] Minutemen provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that enabled the colonies to respond immediately to war threats.The minutemen were among the first to fight in the American Revolution. Their teams constituted about a quarter of the entire militia. They were generally younger and more mobile.[citation needed]

The term has also been applied to various later United States civilian-based paramilitary forces to recall the success and patriotism of the originals.