War of 1812
Research for Online Investors

7/3/12

The War of 1812 was declared by the United States against Britain because of restrictions England placed on the U.S. in free trade.  England had been at war with France (Napoleon) since 1803.  Britain was the U.S.’s largest trading partner.  They bought 80% of our cotton and 50% of all other exported products.

The U.S. wanted to remain neutral and trade with France.  England’s Royal Navy had six hundred ships but saw the U.S. merchant marine as a challenge to their supremacy of the seas.  U.S. merchant shipping capacity had doubled since the beginning of England’s war with France.

England did not recognize U.S. citizenship of former subjects. The British Navy was short of experienced sailors and would board American merchant ships and conscript sailors that had emigrated from England and Ireland. This challenge to U.S. sovereignty to naturalize citizens was very serious as one investigation done in New York showed 58% of U.S. sailors were from Britain.

Britain supported Indians in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin in their efforts to expel white Americans.  Canada gave the Indians guns hoping to create a “buffer” zone between the U.S. and Canada.  British warships maintained a blockade along the coasts of Europe that hindered U.S. trade.

On June 1, 1812 President James Madison sent a message to congress listing the grievances against England.  The House of Representatives deliberated for four days before declaring war against Great Britain.  The Senate voted to Declare War and President Madison signed the declaration of America’s first constitutional war on June 18, 1812

The war was fought along the U.S. Canadian border until the Royal Navy arrived off the coast of America and enforced an embargo on the U.S.

Napoleon abdicated on April 6, 1814 which allowed England to turn their full fury at the U.S. On August 24, 1814 British Major General Ross led his force into Washington, D.C. and destroyed much of the government facilities including the Capital building and White House.

On September 3, 1814 Frank Key and John Skinner sailed out of Baltimore flying a white flag so they would not come under fire from British ships.  Their mission was to arrange an exchange of prisoners, specifically to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes.  The mission was approved by President Madison as Dr. Beanes was elderly and well loved by the townspeople.

Key and Skinner boarded the British flagship HMS Tonnant on Sept. 7 and convinced the officers in charge to release the good doctor because he had treated wounded British soldiers. The American representatives overheard plans for an attack and invasion of Baltimore and could not be released. They were to be held captive until after the battle and were transferred to another ship.

As the battle continued into the rainy night of September 13, Key and Skinner could see the small storm flag over Ft. McHenry flying when the rockets and bombs exploded. When the battle ended the in the middle of the night, they didn’t know the damage that had been done or if British invasion forces had stormed the fort.

The next morning, as the sun came up, Key could see a large U.S. Flag flying triumphantly over the fort. He wrote a poem about his emotions on the back of a letter he had in his pocket. He and Skinner were released at twilight on the 16th in Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key completed his poem in the hotel that night. The next morning, Key showed the poem to his brother-in-law, Judge Joseph H. Nicholson, who thought the poem would fit a melody he had heard before. Judge Nicholson took the poem to a printer that day and had copies made to be distributed.

The poem was originally titled "Defence of Fort McHenry."  Within a month, the song had been printed in papers as far south as Georgia. The Star Spangled Banner was publicly sung for the first time by actor Ferdinand Durang in October 1814 in a Baltimore tavern.

On July 27, 1889, the Secretary of the Navy made the Star Spangled Banner the official song to be played while raising the flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered it be played at military and other appropriate occasions and instructed the U.S. Bureau of Education to provide an “official” version.

On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a law adopting the Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem of the United States.

Most Americans know the words to the Star Spangled Banner first verse, but did you know there are four verses?

When the Star Spangled Banner is played, all present should stand at attention with their hand over their heart. Service men and women in uniform should salute from the first note until the last. Civilians are to remove their hat and hold it over their left shoulder so their right hand is over their heart.  Retired military may render a hand salute in civilian clothes, even if not 'covered.'

If a flag is present, all should face the flag.  If a flag is not present, all should face the source of the music. On a military installation, all vehicle traffic is to stop during the playing of the National Anthem.

Following is the complete “official” version. The last verse might embarrass some that have tried to remove God from our country’s history. It is my favorite.

O 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?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The third verse in the video is different than printed here.  I am sorry for the discrepancy, but wanted to give you a full version.

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.  And…every time a “bomb bursts in air” remember the men, and women, that have guaranteed the freedom you enjoy with your family.

Editor's note:  May our cause always be just...to ensure we are protected by higher powers than armaments and willing men and women.

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