April 28, 1788 Maryland Becomes a State Maryland is a state rich in history. It was first settled by Europeans in the 1600s. Maryland supported the American Revolution, even to the point of having a type of Tea Party of their own at Annapolis. The state continued to show its support throughout the revolution and became the seventh state of the Union on April 28, 1788. Throughout the history of the nation, Maryland was in the middle of things. Battles of the War of 1812 were fought on Maryland soil and many battles of the Civil War were fought there also. During the war of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote The Star- Spangled Banner as a result of the Battle of Baltimore. Maryland was in a difficult situation during the Civil War because it was a slave state, but the nation s capital was so close that its fate was dependent on whether or not Maryland stayed in the Union. Loyalties were divided between North and South, and Maryland stayed with the Union. However, many of the citizens of Maryland joined the Confederate Army. Maryland continues to be a vital part of the nation today. Many famous people are from Maryland including William Paca, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Samuel Chase, Thomas Stone, Benjamin Banneker, Francis Scott Key, Johns Hopkins, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Thurgood Marshall, Spiro Agnew, John Hanson, and Roger Brooke Taney. Look at the map of Maryland below. Label the capital of Maryland. Locate the cities of Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Annapolis, Hancock, Bethesda, Oakland, Cumberland, Hagerstown, Columbia, Silver Spring, Salisbury, Cambridge, and Ocean City, and label them on the map. Now label the Allegheny Mountains, South Mountain, Catoctin Mountain, and Backbone Mountain. Also, locate the Monocacy River, Potomac River, Chester River, Choptank River, Elk River, Manokin River, Nanticoke River, Pocomoke River, Sassafras River, Wicomico River, Susquehanna River, Bush River, Gunpowder River, Patapsco River, Patuxent River, Severn River, and Deep Creek Lake, and label them. Lastly, label the states or bodies of water that border Maryland. When you have finished, move on to the timeline of Maryland history on the next page and the research prompts that follow.
Timeline of Maryland History 1572 1631 1634 1649 1654 1727 1767 1776 1785 1788 1791 1814 1839 1862 1864 1876 1937 1950 1963 1985
1. The Battle of Bladensburg, Battle of Baltimore, and the firing on Fort McHenry, along with the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner occur 2. Claiborne s rebellion begins 3. Maryland gives land to the government for the District of Columbia 4. The Battle of Antietam occurs 5. Pedro Menendez de Aviles explores the Chesapeake Bay area 6. Johns Hopkins University is founded 7. The Mount Vernon Compact is approved, giving both Virginia and Maryland navigational rights on the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River 8. A religious toleration law is approved, granting religious freedom to all Christians 9. A major effort to clean up Chesapeake Bay begins 10. The survey is completed that establishes the Mason-Dixon Line 11. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway becomes the state s first modern toll highway 12. A trading post opens on Kent Island that is one of the first colonial settlements in the Maryland area 13. The first oceangoing iron steamship built in the United States is completed in Baltimore 14. The Friendship International Airport opens in Baltimore 15. The Maryland Gazette, the first colonial newspaper south of Philadelphia, begins publication 16. Maryland s first state income tax law is passed 17. Colonists found St. Mary s City after arriving on two ships, the Ark and the Dove 18. Maryland becomes the seventh state in the Union 19. The Battle of Monocacy occurs 20. Late in the year, the Continental Congress moves to Baltimore because of the British threat in the Philadelphia area
Research Prompt #1 It was reported that in August 1776, there were soldiers from Maryland fighting at the Battle of Long Island in the Revolutionary War. Using a map, find out how far it is from the Maryland border to Long Island, New York, using the straightest route possible (remember there were not many roads to follow). Next, figure out about how fast you can walk a mile. Many people walk a mile in 12 15 minutes, but could you keep up that pace all day? Walking for 10 hours per day, how long would it take to get from the Maryland border to Long Island? How does this show the determination of the colonists from Maryland to become independent from Britain? Write about your thoughts.
Research Prompt #2 Johns Hopkins Hospital was dedicated in 1889 in Baltimore. Research the hospital. How did it get started? How has it grown and changed over the years?
Research Prompt #3 Do some research on the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. How did it get started? Was it the first public aquarium in the United States? What kinds of animals can you find there? Answer these questions and write about anything else that interests you about the aquarium.
Timeline of Maryland History Answer Key Pedro Menendez de Aviles explores the Chesapeake Bay area 1572 Colonists found St. Mary s City after arriving on two ships, the Ark and the Dove 1631 1634 1649 A trading post opens on Kent Island that is one of the first colonial settlements in the Maryland area A religious toleration law is approved, granting religious freedom to all Christians Claiborne s rebellion begins The survey is completed that establishes the Mason-Dixon Line The Mount Vernon Compact is approved, giving both Virginia and Maryland navigational rights on the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River Maryland gives land to the government for the District of Columbia The first oceangoing iron steamship built in the United States is completed in Baltimore 1654 1727 1767 1776 1785 1788 1791 1814 1839 The Maryland Gazette, the first colonial newspaper south of Philadelphia, begins publication Late in the year, the Continental Congress moves to Baltimore because of the British threat in the Philadelphia area Maryland becomes the seventh state in the Union The Battle of Bladensburg, Battle of Baltimore, and the firing on Fort McHenry, along with the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner occur 1862 The Battle of Antietam occurs The Battle of Monocacy occurs 1864 1876 Johns Hopkins University is founded Maryland s first state income tax law is passed The John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway becomes the state s first modern toll highway 1937 1950 1963 The Friendship International Airport opens in Baltimore 1985 A major effort to clean up Chesapeake Bay begins