The War of 1812

Kerby Anderson wrote the following article.
This year is the bicentennial of the War of 1812. A recent USA Today article acknowledges that most Americans know very little about a war that many have called “The Second American Revolution.”
They might remember that the British burned the White House and the Capitol. If you have ever taken a tour of the White House, they mention the event and explain it as one of the reasons they have to continously paint the building white.
Some might have an image of Dolly Madison fleeing ahead of torch-brandishing Royal Marines. Tucked under her arm is a portrait of George Washington. Others might remember that Andrew Jackson defended New Orleans. Older citizens might even remember the hit song, “The Battle of New Orleans.” But most Americans would probably admit they know little of a war that had significant influence on the future of America.
At the time, the British were occupied in Europe with Napoleon. But after the Napoleonic Wars, they sent warships to America and unleashed the greatest naval power of that era on the small, struggling nation. That we survived was a testament to the fact that the United States was no longer a small, agrarian nation with a weak military.
Whenever we sing “The Star Spangled Banner” we are remembering a bit of history from this war. In 1814, sixteen British ships unleashed their naval firepower on Baltimore’s Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key was part of a humanitarian effort to free some Americans prisoners but he was stuck on the ship until after the battle. He and the others wondered whether the British had been successful. He saw during the dawn’s early light that the garrison flag was still there, surviving the bombs bursting in air. He wrote the poem which was later put to a British tune. It became our national anthem.
This bicentennial year, I encourage you to learn more about the War of 1812. It shaped this nation and is an important part of our history, even if many of us know little about it.