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11 Battle for Fort McHenry

although the American flag was tattered and singed from the battle, it was still waving proudly! Relieved that the fort had withstood the attack, Key pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket and began writing the words that eventually would

Make Connections The British fired 1,500 shells at Fort McHenry, including specialized Congreve rockets that left red tails of flame (“the rockets red glare”) and bombs with burning fuses that were supposed to explode when they reached their target but often blew up in midair instead (“the bombs bursting in air”).

become part of the national anthem : “‘Tis the star- spangled banner—O long may it wave. O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” No one knew it at the time, but Key’s simple four- stanza poem would go on to become a battle cry for the nation. It would be sung before sporting events and at other important moments, in honor of the men and women who fought so bravely for freedom. It would provide inspiration and hope in troubled times. And it would serve as a reminder of the time when an over- matched fort stood up to a brutal attack from foreign invaders and won.

Text-Dependent Questions Why did the British bombard Fort McHenry in September 1814? What city were they trying to capture? Research Project The War of 1812 has often been called “the Second American Revolution.” To explain this, you will need to research and understand the causes of this conflict, as well as what its resolution meant for the United States and its relationship with Great Britain.