The Star Spangled Banner Like You’ve Never Heard It

can i get that for my MYSPACE page somehow?

The must be made up history, because it’s WRONG. It begins with the speaker stating that “the colonies” were in conflict with the “mother country.”

The United States declared independence in 1776.
The Star-Spangled Banner was written during the War of 1812.

http://www.francisscottkey.org/

And the music is taken from the film “Patton.”

I’m sure that the choice of background music (Patton) was for effect – and it did its job well. I loved it! As for the facts: The War of 1812 WAS against the Britain! This was basically a second war for our independence, our freedoms and our way of life. As far as the reference to the colonies – Britain STILL refer to us as the colonies, so who’s to say?

James Madison in 1812, first US president to ask congress for a declaration of war, in his message to congress, Pres. Madison lists the grievances justifying his call to war against Great Britain. They include, interfering with trade on the high seas, inciting Indian attacks on the frontier. But the issue that stirs the most outrage tops Madison’s list. “British ships have continually violated the American flag on the great highway of nations, and have seized and carried off persons sailing under its protection. They spill American blood within waters under our territorial control!”

Major Armistead, United States Army – commander of Fort McHenry commissioned a new American Flag to be flown over the fort. This flag was so big that it has to be made on the base of a grain silo. They made it in record time. This flag was 30 feet high and 42 feet wide and could be seen for miles around. Major Armistead did this to send a message to the British Navy – “We will never surrender!!” Basically, he is thumbing his nose at the British, daring them to come and get him.

For the British, Baltimore is a critical strategic objective. Having already burned the US Capital at Washington D.C., their next objective was the city of Baltimore, only a few miles up the coast from the Capital. In order to control American commerce and the east coast, the British must take Baltimore. In order to take Baltimore, Ft. McHenry must be neutralized, her guns silenced and her troops captured or scattered.
Before the British Navy can get ships in position to attack, many of the shipping merchants take some of their biggest ships and scuttle them at the entrance to Baltimore harbor. This blocks the British from bringing their war ships in large quantity into firing range of Ft. McHenry.

During the artillery battle that follows, Ft. McHenry does take significant damage, but the fort’s gun batteries and gunnery crews are still intact and fighting. The fighting continued through the night. The huge flag that flew over Ft. McHenry was the symbol the people drew hope from. “We will NEVER surrender!!!” Everyone knew that if the U.S. Flag was still flying over the fort at day break, the fort could not be taken. So it became paramount to keep the flag up. To send the message – both to the people of Baltimore and to the British….. “WE are Americans! We WILL NEVER surrender!
Without the ability to safely land troops, the British withdrew their forces and began to regroup for an attack at New Orleans.

The Battle of New Orleans would become the most famous battle of the War of 1812 as well as the last battle of the war. Ironically, this battle would be fought after the signing of the Peace Treaty ending the war. Because of the slow speed of communication, word that the war had ended did not reach either side in time. The victory of the U.S. Forces under General Andrew Jackson ensured United States control of the Mississippi River and opened up the Louisiana Purchase Territories to U.S. Expansion and settlement during the 19th century.

Francis Scott Key did in fact write the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the national anthem of the United States of America. “Key was born and raised in western Maryland. He became a lawyer, first in Frederick and then in what is now the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. During the War of 1812, when it seemed likely that British forces would overtake Baltimore, Key traveled to Fort McHenry in September of 1814 to negotiate the release of Dr. William Beanes, who was being held captive by the British. Key succeeded in getting Beanes released, but was unable to leave, due to the British bombardment of the fort. During the bombardment Key was aboard a ship, some eight miles away, watching as the British shelled Fort McHenry. When the smoke cleared the next morning, Key was able to see the U.S. flag still flying at the fort (the specially-made flag was 30 feet high and 42 feet wide). Inspired by the sight, Key scribbled down a few poetic lines, which he later enhanced at a hotel in Baltimore. The poem, titled “Defense of Fort M’Henry,” was widely circulated in newspapers throughout the U.S., then sung to the tune of an English song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” Popularly called “The Star-Spangled Banner,” it was adopted on 3 March 1931 as the U.S. national anthem. Key went on to have a successful legal career, serving as a district attorney for Washington, D.C. for many years.”