sentences:  Provisionally, the militia's establishment could be maintained by a compulsory ballot among men of certain ages who could be compelled to fight, albeit within certain prescribed territorial limits, and who were generally considered to be engaged for a fixed period of service to meet an obligation.Although this force ultimately proved unsuccessful, it sowed the seeds for further development later.In the 1850s, the provision of responsible government to the colonies led to increased responsibility and self-reliance.