Go to Teacher Notes

The War of 1812

Our national anthem began as a poem celebrating a battle during the War of 1812. The song is better known than the war. What was the fight about? Why would a country as young as ours become involved in another war against Britain?

Visit http://www.gatewayno.com/History/War1812.html.

• Why was the United States irritated with the British?



• Why did the War Hawks want to go to war?



• How did the war go for America in 1812–1813?



• What happened to Washington, D.C., in 1814?



• Describe Andrew Jackson's victory in New Orleans.



• Explain the practice of impressment.



• What did Thomas Jefferson hope to accomplish by passing the Embargo Act?

Now go to http://www.usflag.org/francis.scott.key.html. It tells about the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

• Who was Francis Scott Key and why did he go to Baltimore?



• What inspired him to write "and the flag was still there"?



• When was Key's poem adopted as our national anthem?

Visit one more site: http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/oldironsides.htm.

• Why can the USS Constitution be called a national ship?



• Why was she important to the War of 1812?



• Why was she nicknamed "Old Ironsides"?

Extension Activity
Make an illustration of the Star-Spangled Banner on the back of this sheet.