American Wars
North African pirates had been a menace for hundreds of years and by the late 1700s many nations were paying tribute ensure merchant shipping could proceed without being violently attacked.
In the early years of the 19th century, the United States, at the direction of President Thomas Jefferson, decided to call a halt to the payment of tribute, and a war between the young US Navy and the Barb…
The War of 1812 holds a peculiar place in history. It’s often overlooked, and it’s probably most noteworthy for verses written by an amateur poet and attorney who witnessed one of its battles.
Three weeks before the British Navy attacked Baltimore and inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner," troops from the same fleet landed in Maryland, battled outgunned American forces, marched into the …
In the mid-1840s, relations between the United States and Mexico were strained. Texas was on the verge of becoming part of the US, and Mexicans were outraged.
The bad feelings intensified, violent conflicts erupted, and a bellicose American president quickly convinced Congress to declare war.
The actual conflict would be overshadowed by the Civil War two decades later. Yet it had profound c…
Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland was the site of a ferocious bombardment by the British during the War of 1812. It will forever be famous because Francis Scott Key witnessed the all-night shelling and wrote his poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key resides at the Smithsonian Institution. The national museum hosts an informative web site about the flag and its glorious past.