17 June 2012 Last updated at 17:52 ET
It was a war against the British that gave America its flag and its national anthem. And today marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812.
One battle in particular saw the iconic Star-Spangled Banner gain its place as a symbol of America's national identity.
Alexandra Deutsch, from the Maryland Historical Society, tells the BBC how America got its national anthem.
BBC News - How the Star-Spangled Banner became America's national anthem
It was a war against the British that gave America its flag and its national anthem. And today marks the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812.
One battle in particular saw the iconic Star-Spangled Banner gain its place as a symbol of America's national identity.
Alexandra Deutsch, from the Maryland Historical Society, tells the BBC how America got its national anthem.
BBC News - How the Star-Spangled Banner became America's national anthem