Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert Statue in Baltimore.
USS Constellation & the African Slave Trade
Located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the USS Constellation is the only surviving Civil War era ship.
In March 1807, Congress passed An Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves.
The Act forbade the importation of new slaves from January 1, 1808, although slavery remained legal.
In the years that followed, the USS Constellation would play a role in enforcing this ban.
It operated off the western coast of Africa and its crew captured 3 slave ships bound for the U.S., freeing 705 Africans.
The vessel would later serve the Union during the Civil War (1861-1865).
USS Constellation.
Cecilius Calvert and the Barons of Baltimore
In 1632 King Charles I of England granted Cecilius Calvert 2nd Baron of Baltimore a charter that made him Lord Proprietor of Maryland.
The charter gave Cecilius the right to govern and extract profits from Maryland.
Cecilius' descendants would continue to hold proprietorship rights over Maryland (with periodic interruptions) right up until the American Revolution.
Today's city of Baltimore takes its name from this family's title: the Barons of Baltimore.
USS Constellation.
Fort McHenry has been designated a national monument.
The barracks at Fort McHenry.
On September 13-14, the British launched a naval assault on the port city.
Unwilling to approach the city's shore for fear of coming within firing range of Fort McHenry's cannons, the British fleet bombarded the fort from a distance.
As dawn broke on September 14, it become apparent to terrified civilians watching the conflict from elevated locations throughout Baltimore that the fort remained standing.
The resilience of the fort inspired Francis Scott Key, who watched the battle from sea, to compose the Star Spangled Banner.
This sea battle and a separate land battle fought between American and British forces at North Point together comprise the Battle of Baltimore.
Fort McHenry & the Battle of Baltimore
Named after the second U.S. Secretary of War James McHenry, the fort was completed in 1803.
On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on the British Empire, marking the start of the War of 1812 (1812-1815).
In August of 1814, the British Empire would lay siege to Washington D.C., occupy the city, and set fire to the White House, Capitol Building, and Supreme Court.
Having immolated these symbols of American sovereignty, the Empire turned its sites north on Baltimore.
Entrance to Fort McHenry.
The fort was also used as a prison during the Civil War (1861-1865).
In 1861 members of the Maryland legislature were imprisoned here by the north in order to prevent them from passing an Act of Secession and removing Maryland from the Union.
And the Union army detained almost 7,000 Confederate soldiers here after the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.
View of the Patapsco River from which the British fleet bombarded the fort.
The approach to Fort McHenry.
George Armistead in front of Fort McHenry.
George Armistead
Outside of Fort McHenry sits a statue of Lieutenant Colonel George Armistead who successfully commanded Fort McHenry during its involvement in the Battle of Baltimore.
Battle Monument
Located in downtown Baltimore this monument commemorates the U.S. troops that died in the Battle of Baltimore.
Federal Hill Park
Located on the south side of Inner Harbor, Federal Hill Park offers sweeping views of downtown Baltimore.
The Hill also played a part in Baltimore's historical role as a port city.
In 1785 merchants built a tower here from which trading vessels from Asia and Europe could be watched as they entered the harbor.
Federal Hill.
In 1788, the state of Maryland voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
Following Maryland's ratification, an estimated 4000 locals gathered here to celebrate the event and the location was named Federal Hill in honor of this new federal constitution.
Federal Hill was also fortified and used as a military outpost during both the War of 1812 and the American Civil War.
Written By: Aiden Singh Published: July 18, 2020