Visitors to Fort McHenry can learn about its history and tour the fort as well as viewing a film about the structure. Today, Fort McHenry is a national historic site. However, at that time, President Lincoln had suspended this right as an emergency measure in light of the war and refused to release Merryman. This was against the constitutional right of Habeas Corpus – generally the right to either be charged with a crime or to be released. Merryman, who was accused of burning bridges in Baltimore to impede Union soldiers, was held at Fort McHenry without the right to legal counsel and without being charged. Key’s song would become the American National Anthem.įort McHenry was also at the centre of controversy in the American Civil War when it was the site of imprisonment of John Merryman. Known as the Battle of Baltimore, this clash inspired the words of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ written by observer Sir Francis Scott Key. Over 1,000 American soldiers defended Fort McHenry, managing to repel the British. Partially ignited because the British, who were at war with France, had instigated blockades against the French which had hit American merchant ships, the War of 1812 was a conflict between the US and Great Britain which lasted until 1815.įrom 13 to 14 September 1814, the British attacked Fort McHenry. Named after James McHenry, the Secretary of War from 1796 to 1800, Fort McHenry served its most famous role during the War of 1812. Historic events make way for art that last centuries.Fort McHenry in Baltimore, United States, is a five pointed star shaped brick building originally constructed as a defensive structure between 17. Though popular among the American people, “The Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t adopted as the official anthem of the United States until Congress and President Herbert Hoover signed it into law in 1931.ĭespite what exactly makes an anthem, one thing is for certain. It would take quite a few years for the song to build its legacy, however. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave The song’s name came about due to a brave music printer who took the liberty of changing the title to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The rest, of course, is history.
included the heroic verses in their copies.
It was printed under the title of “Defence of Fort McHenry,” and newspapers all over the U.S. Despite the strange nature of the accompanying music, the song quickly became a hit.
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