The History of the Star-Spangled Banner

United States History From there was a war between Great Britain and the thirteen “United Colonies.” This was known as the American Revolutionary War. Gen. George Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge

The colonies declared their “independence” from Great Britain in The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull (Capitol mural, Washington D.C.) The original Declaration of Independence can be viewed at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. en.wikipedia.org

Causes of the War Taxation Unfair treatment Colonists not given the same rights to democracy as Englishmen Boston Tea Party

Key Elements of the War Britain used its superior Navy to capture and control cities along the coast. Colonists controlled the countryside, where 90% of the people lived. France, Spain, and the Netherlands became allies of the Americans in The Spirit of ’76 by Archibald Willard castawayre.blogspot.com

The British were fighting two wars at the same time: one against the Americans and the other against Napoleon, who wanted to conquer Europe. The vast British Navy was in need of sailors. America Napoleon Great Britain

Aftermath of the War The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in The British agreed to give up their forts and allow settlers to move west. America became a country. The Treaty of Paris by Benjamin West Americans: John Jay, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Henry Laurens, & William Franklin ( The British officials refused to pose!) de.wikipedia.org

BUT... The British decided NOT to give back the forts in America. Therefore, the settlers couldn’t move west. THIS ANGERED THE AMERICANS. To learn more about forts and their importance, click on this link:

In order to keep their forces strong, the British began the process of impressment. Impressment is rather like kidnapping. When the British boarded an American ship, the British commanders would take sailors with them to fight on British ships. THIS ANGERED THE AMERICANS MORE. eefy.editme.com

The British also urged the Indians to fight the Americans. They gave the Indians arms and money. THIS ANGERED THE AMERICANS EVEN MORE!!!

America was a new country and many did not think it could protect itself. Shipping was very important to the early Americans. Business was dependent upon shipping to other countries. Those that were involved in sea trade did not want to go to war against Britain. They didn’t want trade to be disrupted.

When lawful trade embargos failed to solve the problems, President James Madison (Little Jemmy) asked the Congress to declare war on England in Many were against the war, but Madison got Congress to sign on and the war began. Madison was a small man – about 5 ft. 4 inches and weighed about 120 pounds. He had enormous intelligence and was often underestimated by others. madison.thefreelibrary.com

WHAT were they thinking??? The American army invaded Canada, still a British colony, hoping to conquer this British territory. The Indians joined the British and the Americans were not prepared for the battle. The Americans burned the Parliament building in York (now known as Toronto) and retreated. www3.nationalgeographic.com

Meanwhile, in Europe, the British defeated Napoleon. This left the British free to concentrate on their war with America. They came in full force with the largest and most professional group of soldiers in the whole world.

To get revenge for the burning of York, the British attacked Washington, D.C. Thinking that the British might be on their way to Washington, Madison and other political and military leaders left town. Dolley, Madison’s wife, remained behind. No one truly believed the British would attack Washington.

The British focused their energy on Washington and attacked ferociously. First they burned the Capitol. Then they destroyed all of the books in the Library of Congress. Many civilians were killed, though the British lost very few soldiers. en.wikipedia.orgwww.jiten.com

Then, they headed for the President’s House, where Dolley was about to give a dinner party. The army and militia of America was nowhere to be seen. To take a virtual tour of today's White House, click here.

Dolley ran for her life, but only after she had managed to save many important historical items, including the 1799 portrait of George Washington, velvet curtains, and important papers. Our kind friend, Mr. Carroll, has come to hasten my departure, and is in a very bad humor with me because I insist on waiting until the large picture of Gen. Washington is secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall. This process was found to be too tedious for these perilous moments; I have ordered the frame to be broken, and the canvas taken out; it is done – and the precious portrait placed in the hands of two gentlemen of New York for safekeeping.” Dolley Madison

Then they set fire to the President’s mansion. Before the British burned Madison’s home, they sat down and enjoyed the dinner Dolley had prepared for her guests.

The British could not know that a hurricane was on its way to Washington. To the citizens of Washington it seemed that the hand of God reached out and punished the British. The hurricane hit, tornados touched down, and many soldiers lost their lives.

Washington was in ruins.

After the destruction of Washington, the British headed for Baltimore. Baltimore was a very important port, the home of many American ships.

Now, imagine the port filled with ships. The British called Baltimore “The City of Pirates.” Baltimore patriots were not going to give up their city without a fight. Baltimore today

Baltimore was under the command of Major General Samuel Smith. Major Smith convinced the ship owners to sink their own ships in the water. This turned out to be a great plan – the British warships couldn’t come into the harbor because of the sunken vessels.

The fort was shaped like a star, with cannons mounted at every point. Baltimore also was home to Fort McHenry. This fort, located on Baltimore Harbor, was commanded by Major George Armistead.

In 1813, a year before the British attack, Major Armistead had hired Mary Pickersgill to sew a huge flag, 30 feet high and 42 feet wide. Mary had never made such a huge flag. Her workshop wasn’t big enough! She, her daughter Caroline, and seven other women sewed the giant flag in a brewery after working hours, often sewing until midnight by the light of an oil lamp.

When it was done, it had 15 stripes and 15 stars. Each star was two feet across. Major Armistead had one of the biggest flags in the country.

A year later, in Aug. 1814, Dr. William Beanes was arrested by the British for throwing three trouble-making British soldiers in jail. By September, the British were preparing to attack Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key, a Washington, D.C. lawyer and friend of Dr. Beanes, and John Skinner, the Commissary General in charge of prisoner exchanges, sailed up to the British fleet in a small boat to ask the Admiral to release Dr. Beanes.

Mr. Key argued that the British should release Dr. Beanes because he was not a soldier and had helped many people, including British soldiers. General Ross agreed with Mr. Key and released Dr. Beanes. While on board the ship, Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner found out that the British were about to attack Baltimore.

Because they knew of the British plans, they were held on board a truce ship while Baltimore was attacked. All they could do was watch while the British bombed the fort with 200 pound bombs and rockets.

The British warships fired on Fort McHenry for 25 hours. Because of the sunken ships, the warships could not get close enough to land.

The three men, Beanes, Key, and Skinner, were helpless as they watched the fort being destroyed. They could not see through all the smoke and the dark night.

Finally, at dawn on September 14, 1814, Mr. Key looked through his telescope. He saw the huge American flag waving proudly over Ft. McHenry. The Americans had won the battle!

Francis Scott Key was so overjoyed that he sat down and wrote his poem, “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” which was published in just a few days. byfaithonly.com/America/Key.html

The words were then set to a popular song, Anacreon, and the title changed to “The Star-Spangled Banner”. In 1931, Congress named it the official American National Anthem.

In later years, Major Armistead gave away small pieces of the flag to widows who had lost their husbands in the war. The flag got smaller.

The flag was given to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington in The flag is currently undergoing repairs. Workers are trying to treat the material that is slowly falling apart. mages/thumbs/ fourth-july_170.jpg

Currently, the flag can only be viewed in a room in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History where it is undergoing extensive renovation. Smithsonian photo # /4 by Eric Long)

DID YOU KNOW? This was the only U.S. flag with 15 stars and stripes. It took 400 yards of wool and cotton to complete the flag. Each star measured two feet from point to point. Each stripe was two feet wide. The flag’s original cost was $ The flag was delivered just weeks before the Battle of Baltimore.

DID YOU KNOW? Nearly 61 % of Americans do not know all of the words to the Star- Spangled Banner. More than 70 % of Americans learned the Star-Spangled Banner at school during music. Among teens, 38 % do not know the name of our National Anthem. Less than 35 % of teens can name the author of the National Anthem.

LET’S CHANGE THIS….. AS FEW AS 15 % OF AMERICAN YOUTH CAN SING THE WORDS TO THE ANTHEM. nj1812.homestead.com/History.html

Oh, say! Can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? Ramparts

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Original by Patricia Oeste, 2004 Modified and expanded by Nancy Johnson, 2007

For more information about Fort McHenry and the history of the Star-Spangled Banner visit these sites: Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine History, music, and educational resources. National Museum of American History National Museum of American History A history of the flag, and its display and preservation at the Smithsonian.