In President John Adam's final address, he wrote about the importance of protecting our nation's commercial interests and our capital. Adam's explained that given the vast sea coast, and the ocean which separated us from our enemies, it was only natural that a strong navy adapted to a defensive war would be our best defense.
"While our vast extent of sea coast, the commercial and agriculture habits of our people, the great capital they will continue to trust on the ocean, suggest the system of defense which will be most beneficial to ourselves, our distance from Europe and our resources for maritime strength will enable us to employ it with effect. Seasonable and systematic arrangements, so far as our resources will justify, for a navy adapted to defensive war, and which may in case of necessity be quickly brought into use, seem to be as much recommended by a wise and true economy as by a just regard for our future tranquillity, for the safety of our shores, and for the protection of our property committed to the ocean."But then President Adams went took one step further and wrote that in connection with a navy, Congress should also consider fortifying our principal sea ports and harbors. A considerable sum of money had already been appropriated towards this, but many projects remained incomplete. Adams urged Congress to consider appropriating additional funds to complete the fortification of America's ports and harbors.
"In connection with a navy ought to be contemplated the fortification of some of our principal sea ports and harbors. A variety of considerations, which will readily suggest themselves, urge an attention to this measure of precaution. To give security to our principal ports considerable sums have already been expended, but the works remain incomplete. It is for Congress to determine whether additional appropriations shall be made in order to render competent to the intended purposes the fortifications which have been commenced."One of these forts, was Fort McHenry. In 1800, construction of the new Fort McHenry was completed on the site of the former Fort Whetstone which had defended Baltimore from 1776 to 1797. Fort McHenry was designed by to improve the defenses of the increasingly important Port of Baltimore from future attacks. It was constructed in the shape of a 5-pointed star and was surrounded by a deep broad trench, or dry moat. This trench served a shelter for infantry men who might defend the fort from a land attack. Fort McHenry is best known for it's role in the Battle of Baltimore when it's resistance during the bombardment by the Royal navy inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry", known today as "The Star Spangled Banner".
Fort McHenry was one of the last forts to be built as part of what is known as the "First System". These were forts built between 1793 and 1802 under a combined unit of "Artillerists and Engineers". In 1802, Congress separated the artillerists and engineers into separate corps, and in 1807 over new concerns of war with Great Britain, then President Thomas Jefferson renewed the fortification programs, and built what is known as the "Second System". A Third System was started in 1816, following the War of 1812 under President James Madison.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29442
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baltimore
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seacoast_defense_in_the_United_States
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Fort_McHenry_National_Monument_and_Historic_Shrine_FTMC2498.jpg
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