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Class Date: September 23rd
Location: Your couch! See your weekly e-mail for Zoom link!
The Supremes
The Supremes
This week we are looking at the creation of the Star Spangled Banner through the life of flag maker Mary Young Pickersgill. Before our class, let’s take a look at the events of the time, including some world events to give us more historical context!
1789 - George Washington is inaugurated as the first president
Washington had been chosen unanimously by electors, with John Adams as his Vice President. There was no direct presidential election at the time. Washington was elected in February and inaugurated in New York City in April. In September of the same year, the Federal Judiciary Act was passed to create the Supreme Court.
1791 - The First Bank of the United States is chartered
The bank is chartered in Philadelphia for 20 years by Congress, part of an overall federal fiscal policy. A federal mint and excise taxes were also established.
1791 - Bill of Rights ratified
Many new Americans were reluctant or outright refused to support the Constitution of the United States, especially without more explicit rights outlined. To smooth the way toward more support, Madison introduced a list of amendments in June of 1789 and pushed relentlessly to have them passed. To read more about the Bill of Rights, its passage and history, click here:
1792 - The United States Post Office Department is established
George Washington signed the department of the post office into being. Previously, colonists had been frustrated with the Royal postal service and had laid out a plan for a postal service before the Continental Congress even met. Benjamin Franklin had served as the Philadelphia postmaster general, even streamlining routes from Maine to Florida.
1797 - Joseph Henry born
Henry would eventually serve as the first president of the Smithsonian Institution and made significant contributions in the field of electromagnets. He contributed to the invention of the telegram and became a respected educator. He just might deserve to be a class topic in a future semester!
- 1800 - The United States Library of Congress is founded
Now one of the largest libraries in the world, the Library of Congress originated as a way for Congressional Members to archive and retrieve information. Much of the early collection was furnished by Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers.
To learn more about the Library of Congress and its evolution, check out this 23 minute video from the World History Encyclopedia:
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States, by purchasing the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon, which would pave the way for western expansion for the next century.
1804 - Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr duel
Longtime political rivals, Hamilton ultimately dies as a result. Dr. David Hosack attends the duel as a personal friend of both men. He remains friends with both families the rest of his life.
To read more about the duel, click here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/duel-alexander-hamilton-and-aaron-burrs-duel/
If you would like a little music to accompany your learning about duels, click here
To see the commercial that I fondly remember referencing this duel, check out this video. Thanks to Beverly for tracking it down! (To see the commercial referencing this duel, check out this video. Thanks to Beverly for tracking it down!
1805 - Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific
After 2 years of struggling across harsh and unforgiving terrain, the Lewis and Clark expedition reached the Pacific coast near present-day Astoria, Oregon. Along the way, the group swelled with ranks with Shoshone-born Sacagawea, who joined the expedition with her husband, a French-Canadian fur trapper. Though pregnant, Sacagawea traveled with the group and interpreted when necessary. Her son, whom she named Jean Baptiste, was born along the way before they reached the Pacific.
For a great documentary about the expedition, check out this 43 minute Biography episode:
1812 - The War of (you guessed it) 1812
The United States declared war on Great Britain after a number of skirmishes.
We will also be covering this a little bit in class!
For an overview of the war, its causes, and its outcomes, check out this great 12 minute Crash Course video
1819 - Transcontinental Treaty with Spain
Also known by some (historians, at least) as the Adams-Onis Treaty. The treaty ceded what are now Florida and Oregon to the United States. In return, the United States recognized Spanish sovereignty in the area of Texas.
That is where our timeline leaves us this week! Tune in this week for more!
Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
To read more about this period, here are some great books to get you started:
For kids:
Our Flag Was Still There: The True Story of Mary Pickersgill and the Star-Spangled Banner by Jessie Hartland
From beloved author-illustrator Jessie Hartland comes a whimsical nonfiction picture book that tells the story of the American flag that inspired the poem and our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
If you go to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, you can see a massive American flag: thirty feet tall and forty-two feet long. That’s huge! But how did it get there? And where did it come from? Well…
The story of this giant flag begins in 1812 and stars a major on the eve of battle, a seamstress and her mighty helpers, and a poet named Francis Scott Key. This isn’t just the story of one flag. It’s the story of “The Star Spangled-Banner,” a poem that became our national anthem, too.
Dynamically told and stunningly illustrated, Jessie Hartland brings this fascinating and true story to life.
The Star-Spangled Banner by Peter Spier
Never before has the riveting American saga of "The Star-Spangled Banner" been so beautifully and thoroughly presented. This info-packed story of our national anthem includes:
★ Illustrated lyrics
★ The fascinating history of the War of 1812 and the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words
★ Musical notation
★ Historical images
★ A reproduction of Key's original manuscript
Caldecott Medalist Peter Spier's magnificent tribute takes readers from our anthem's turbulent origins at the Battle of Baltimore through the flag's significance in modern-day America. It's a must-have for every American family's library.
For adults:
Mary Young Pickersgill: Flag Maker of the Star Spangled Banner by Sally Johnston and Pat Pilling
The stirring history of Mary Pickersgill's family is included in the book and helps explain Mary Pickersgill's drive and determination to produce the flags for Fort McHenry when the city of Baltimore was under imminent attack. The book also describes how the Star-Spangled Banner became the most important object in the Smithsonian's vast collection. In addition, the book recounts the history of the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association that preserved the little house on the corner of Pratt and Albemarle Streets as a museum to honor Mary Pickersgill's legacy.
Star-Spangled Banner: The Unlikely Story of America’s National Anthem by Marc Ferris
Star-Spangled Banner: The Unlikely Story of America’s National Anthem by Marc Ferris
Nearly every American knows The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States of America. Yet many people dislike the song, contend that it glorifies militarism, and question its suitability as the musical embodiment of nationhood. Even professional vocalists have trouble singing the multi-octave melody and remembering the words. So why in 1931 did Congress designate it as the official national anthem, more than a century after Francis Scott Key put pen to paper?
Filled with fascinating, little-known facts drawn from a variety of primary sources, Star-Spangled Banner provides the first narrative history of this controversial song, which turns 200 years old in 2014. Marc Ferris’s lively account, which traces the evolution of the song’s instant popularity as well as its use and abuse by Americans of different political stripes, also explains the changing rituals surrounding the song, including the practice of standing—with hats removed and hand held over the heart—during public performances.
This entertaining book will appeal to patriots of all persuasions, along with sports fans, musicians, veterans, history buffs, and anyone who has ever struggled to hit the high notes in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Works Cited
Works Cited
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