What do you feel when you hear our national anthem? What events inspired a simple poem that ended up becoming the United States National Anthem? Are the lyrics "And the rocket's red glare, bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there" just words or do they really mean something? .
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After the American Revolution ended in Victory at Yorktown in 1781, a second war with Great Britain broke out in 1812 over trade issues and territorial expansion. To keep America from trading with Canada, the British had set up a blockade off the American coast which kept the American merchant vessels and warships confined to their home ports. .
In July, 1812 the U.S. commander of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore, MD asked for a flag so big that "the British would have no trouble seeing it from a distance." He asked Mary Young Pickersgill, a flag maker, to make it for him. Mary and her thirteen year old daughter Caroline, used 400 yards of the best quality wool bunting. They cut 15 stars that measured two feet from point to point. There were eight red and seven white stripes, each two feet wide. The two used a local brewery after hours to lay out the material and sew the flag together. It was finished in August and measured 30 x 42 feet and cost $405.90. .
Meanwhile the British were set to attack U.S. Coastal areas and to prepare to capture towns along the East Coast to create diversions while the British army forces attacked along the northern boundaries of the United states. They soon captured the nation's capital, burned the President" house, and arrested a man by the name of Dr. William Beanes, who was said to be responsible for arresting British stragglers and deserters. Mr. Beanes was then imprisoned on a British warship.
Francis Scott Key, a prominent Georgetown lawyer, and John S. Skinner, an agent in charge of negotiations with the British for prisoner exchanges, were asked to go to the British Commander and secure the release of the Mr.