The National Anthem, the War of 1812 and Black History Month

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The lyrics for "The Star Spangled Banner" were written by Francis Scott Keyin a poem called "In Defense of Fort M'Henry" on September 14, 1814. The poem was set to the tune of a British song written by John Stafford Smith. It was officially made the national anthem in 1931.

Black men fought for both sides. The Britsh promised freedom to those who chose to fight with them. "All told, more than 4000 people were freed from slavery – the largest emancipation that took place in the U.S. until the Civil War." Source: Black sailors and Soldiers in the War of 1812, PBS, Link

Also see "The Life of Charles Ball, A Black Man" Available on Google Books Link

War of 1812

There were some Americans among them but they were mostly French creoles and one band had in its formation something that was curiously pathetic. It was composed of free men of color, who had gathered to defend the land which kept the men of their race in slavery; who were to shed their blood for the Flag that symbolized to their kind not freedom but bondage; who were to die bravely as freemen only that their brethren might live on ignobly as slaves. Surely there was never a stranger instance than this of the irony of fate. (Source:The Naval War of 1812: The History of the United States Navy During the Last War with Great Britain, to which is Appended an Account of the Battle of New Orleans, Volume 2, Theodore Roosevelt, G. P. Putnam's sons, 1882, pp 206-207)

Article I

There shall be a firm and universal peace between His Britannic Majesty and the United States and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns, and people of every degree without exception of places or persons. All hostilities both by sea and land shall cease as soon as this treaty shall have been ratified by both parties as hereinafter mentioned. All territory places and possessions whatsoever taken by either party from the other during the war or which may be taken after the signing of this treaty, excepting only the islands hereinafter mentioned, shall be restored without delay and without causing any destruction or carrying away any of the artillery or other public property originally captured in said forts or places and which shall remain therein upon the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty or any slaves or other private property. And all archives records deeds and papers either of a public nature or belonging to private persons which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of the officers of either party shall be as far as may be practicable forthwith restored and delivered to the proper authorities and persons to whom they respectively belong. Such of the islands in the Bay of Passamaquoddy as are claimed by both parties shall remain in the possession of the party in whose occupation they may be at the time of the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty until the decision respecting the title to the said islands shall have been made in conformity with the fourth article of this treaty. No disposition made by this treaty as to such possession of the islands and territories claimed by both parties shall in any manner whatever be construed to affect the right of either. (Source:The Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812: Or, Illustrations, by Pen and ..., Benson John Lossing, p 1071

Article X

Whereas the traffic in slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and justice and whereas both His Majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its entire abolition it is hereby agreed that both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavors to accomplish so desirable an object (Source: Old South Leaflets, Issue 212, Directors of the Old South Work, 1818, p.8)

"The Senate finally voted to ratify the treaty and it was published to the world. Then the opposition opened upon it their heaviest batteries of abuse. The chief targets for their shot were its provisions for the payment of honest debts contracted before the Revolution and the omission to provide for the remuneration of slaveholders for their negroes carried away during that war. As the Constitution of the United States and the public sentiment and judicial decisions of Great Britain did not recognize man as property, the claim relating to slaves in the old treaty was passed over." (Source:The Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812, Benson John Lossing,p. 87)

Article V the contracting parties agreed to refer to arbitration the question whether under Article I of the Treaty of Ghent American slaveholders were entitled to compensation for slaves carried off by the British forces. The Emperor of Russia was chosen arbitrator but the commission appointed under his award in 1822 could not agree. This unsavory question was finally laid at rest by a special convention of November 13, 1826, by which the British government paid the United States $1,204,960 in complete satisfaction of its claim. ((Source: Old South Leaflets, Issue 212, Directors of the Old South Work, 1818, p. 18)