11-14, 1786; though Maryland did not participate, dele-
gates from the five other states expressed concern about
certain phases of the Federal constitution then in the
process of formulation. On April 28, 1788, Maryland rati-
fied the constitution, the seventh state to endorse a docu-
ment which, through her leadership in the revision of the
Articles of Confederation, she had done much to formulate.

Because of the exhaustion of the tobacco lands, however,
serious agricultural problems remained. Slavery was be-
coming a burden, and currency problems vexed Maryland's
economic life. In the formation of a new nation, Maryland
did its part by sacrificing its territory and advancing money
for public buildings to form the District of Columbia
(1791). To offset some of the difficulties, Baltimore had
grown until it was five times as great as Annapolis, the
flourishing port of the "Golden Age." Early in the new
century exports from Maryland ports reached the
$14,000,000 mark.

The Second British Conflict

This shipping was, however, seriously hampered by Brit-
ish policy. Finally British interference with our vessels and
crews brought on the War of 1812. Fighting began in
Canada but was soon carried south by the British. From
1813 Maryland bore the brunt of the war. British troops
routed our forces at Bladensburg and then proceeded to
Washington, where they burned the public buildings. But
defeats at North Point and Fort McHenry prevented the
British from capturing Baltimore. During the bombard-
ment of Fort McHenry, a Marylander, Francis Scott Key,
was inspired to write the "Star Spangled Banner."

The War Between The States

After 1815 the State went on more vigorous than ever. A
national "pike" was completed to Ohio, two canals and a
railroad were put in operation, and Baltimore increased
enormously in population. By sharing the industrial and
commercial interests of the North and West, Marylanders
were put in a peculiar position when the secessionist move-
ment began. On July 18, 1859, State troops helped in the
suppression of the rebellion at Harper's Ferry ("John
Brown's raid"), but two years later some Baltimoreans at-
tacked the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment on its way
through the city to relieve Washington. Enraged poetical
comment on this event by a Marylander, James Ryder Ran-
dall, produced the State song, "Maryland, My Maryland."