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A New Nation
(1776-1830)
Flag Day

Francis Scott Key and the Star Spangled Banner

Francis Scott Key and the Star Spangled Banner
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 6 to 8
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   5.74

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    fuses, conscription, unorganized, destruction, impressment, commander, rails, defeat, valuable, victory, Beanes, persuade, whom, fail, prisoner, immediately
     content words:    Revolutionary War, When Britain, United States, American Indians, On June, Great Britain, White House, President James Madison, George Washington, Fort McHenry

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Francis Scott Key and the Star Spangled Banner
By Jane Runyon 		  
1     The British did not take their defeat in the Revolutionary War too well. They would not believe that they could be beaten by a group of unorganized colonists. The British government believed that if they gave the colonists a few years, the American government would fail and would be begging the British to come back and take over. When Britain went to war with France in 1793, they needed more men to fight on their ships. Britain also needed to control shipping routes across the Atlantic. British ships stole American sailors to fight in the British navy against France. This was called conscription or impressment. Britain also tried to restrict trade between the United States and other countries in Europe. Americans were also upset with the British for helping American Indians defend their land against American encroachment. On June 18, 1812, America declared war on Great Britain.
 
2     In August 1814, the British boldly entered the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., and took it over. By this time, their war with France was over. The Canadians had held off the weak American effort to take them over. More soldiers were available to be sent on the attack. The British set fire to the White House, which was the home of President James Madison. Luckily, he was away at the time, and his wife, Dolley, was able to save many valuable belongings. One of these belongings was a portrait of George Washington. They also set fire to the Capitol building. A rain storm was the act of nature which saved those structures from total destruction.
 
3     The British set their sights on taking Baltimore, Maryland, when they left Washington. They were angry with the citizens of Baltimore for allowing private ship owners to capture British trading ships. They were much like pirates stealing the British treasures. When the British reached Baltimore, some forty miles from Washington, they found that the citizens had sunk ships in the harbor keeping them from getting too close to the city. They were stopped near Fort McHenry and decided to make that their target instead.

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