\n
×
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nDuring the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem which would eventually become the nation’s anthem. In the days after Washington D.C. was burned during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key and John Stuart Skinner were sent on a...\nDuring the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem which would eventually become the nation’s anthem. In the days after Washington D.C. was burned during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key and John Stuart Skinner were sent on a mission. They sailed from Baltimore under a flag of truce. Their goal was to negotiate a prisoner exchange, in order to release a local doctor being held by the British. While on board a British ship, Key and Skinner ate dinner with the British officers. These officers were discussing their plans to attack Baltimore. It was decided that since Key and Skinner had overheard the details of this plan, they would not be allowed to leave until after the battle was over. Throughout that night, Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry, as the British attempted to capture the city of Baltimore. It was a rainy night, and he was unable to see all that was taking place. However, he could see that Fort McHenry was still flying a small American flag, indicating that the fort had not yet been captured. Key would not know the outcome of the battle until the next morning. At dawn on September 14, 1814, he could see that the small flag had been lowered, but a much larger American flag had been raised in its place. Key knew that his home was still safe. Inspired by the battle, Key wrote a poem while still onboard the British ship. He wrote the poem on the back of an envelope which he had in his pocket. He finished the poem while in a hotel room, and entitled it “The Defense of Fort McHenry”. The words of his poem were as follows: O say can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: \"In God is our trust.\" And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Key gave the poem to his brother-in-law, who in turn, gave it to a Baltimore printer. The poem was first published on September 20, 1814 in the Baltimore Patriot and The American. It quickly became popular and was almost immediately published in an additional seventeen newspapers across the country. Before long, it was being published along with music, under the title “The Star-Spangled Banner”, and by the end of 1814 it was even being performed in public. Throughout the 1800s, the song became increasingly well-known. It could be heard being played at Independence Day celebrations, flag-raising ceremonies, and other appropriate occasions. By the early 1900s, the “Star-Spangled Banner” had become commonplace, but there were many different versions of it being circulated. In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson decided there should be an official version. Five prominent musicians, including John Philip Sousa, were asked to create the standard version, which was first performed at Carnegie Hall on December 5, 1917. Even though it was common to hear the song at public events, it did not become the nation’s official “national anthem” until March 3, 1931. During the years of World War II, it became traditional to play the anthem before sporting events, and it can also be heard at many other public gatherings. When the song is played, it is customary to stand at attention, and place the right hand over the heart. Military personnel and veterans should salute during the anthem.\n
\n
\n
\n
Resource Details
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n- Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"The](\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" "\\"The")
\n