INTRODUCTION YOU KNOW THE NATIONAL ANTHEM O Say can you see I bet you could hum it right now You’ve probably sung it at a sporting event or during the beginning of a concert Maybe you’ve watched the Olympics and heard the anthem play when an American American wins gold Most if not all countries have a national anthem a song that represents them Many anthems have words Some proclaim proclaim values such as courage and loyalty that describe the country’s citizens France’s popular anthem La Marseillaise is a call for citizens citizens to fight for freedom against oppression The British anthem is a prayer for the health of the reigning king or queen Anthems inspire patriotism and pride in one’s country The United States of America’s anthem unlike most tells the story of a historic event While many Americans know the words they don’t all know the story This book tells that story through the eyes of people who lived it including Mary Pickersgill Thomas Kemp George Cockburn Francis Scott Key Samuel Smith and Alexander Cochrane They lived very different lives yet their stories would become woven together into one grand narrative At the center of the story is a flag that would one day be called the Star Spangled Banner Many years ago it flew over a fort in the city of Baltimore during a battle with Great Britain The Battle of Baltimore was one of many battles during the War of 1812 a confusing name because although the war began that year it lasted until 1815 During the war fighting took place in various parts of the North American continent mostly in four main areas along the Canada United States border and into southern Canada at spots along America’s western boundary in the Chesapeake Bay region and along the Gulf Coast in the South vi
A news bulletin in the form of a poster called a broadside announced the declaration of war against Great Britain June 22 1812 vii
Although today Americans and Canadians view it as a separate war British people often consider the War of 1812 part of a larger conflict the United Kingdom and other European countries fought against France That’s if they think of it at all because in British history the War of 1812 does not hold much importance In North American history the war is important because it confirmed the United States of America’s independence from Great Britain It was a key event in ensuring Canadian freedom as well from the United States Canada was not yet its own country but was made up of separate colonies that were part of the British Empire Some politicians in the United States wanted to expand American territory by capturing parts of Canada The War of 1812 was the first war declared by the new United States America was a baby among powerful countries such as France Great Britain Russia Austria and Prussia later Germany Its very existence was fragile and President James Madison’s declaration of war against Britain was a bold move that only some Americans agreed with But those who wanted war were fed up with Britain’s disregard for America’s freedom to trade with other European countries and its kidnapping called impressment of American sailors from American ships to work on its fleet Britain thought it could push America around And to a degree it could Great Britain’s powerful navy ruled the seas America barely owned a navy The events that played out on the water around Baltimore would have a large impact on American history viii
