Over its more than two centuries of history, the United States has seen its share of good and bad days. But there have been a few days that left Americans in fear for the future of the nation and for their own safety and well-being. Here, in chronological order, are eight of the scariest days in America.
August 24, 1814: Washington, D.C. Burned by the British
illustration of white house burning
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In 1814, during the third year of the War of 1812, England, having fended off its own threat of invasion by France under Napoleon Bonaparte, focused its extensive military might on reclaiming vast areas of the still weakly defended United States.
On August 24, 1814, after defeating the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, British forces attacked Washington, D.C., setting fire to many government buildings, including the White House. President James Madison and most of his administration fled the city and spent the night in Brookville, Maryland; known today as the "United States Capital for a Day."
