And ever since its creation, it’s been steeped in controversy, from its racist lyrical content to its anti-British sentiments. Inspired by the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, Keys was so moved at the American resilience he saw that he couldn’t wait to write the lyrics - and scribbled them on the backside of a letter.ĭespite the instant popularity of the song, it took more than a century after it was written for it to be officially recognized as the national anthem. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was penned by Francis Scott Key, a 19th-century lawyer who dabbled in poetry. Just for starters, the fact that it’s only been America’s national anthem for a fraction of American history might come as a shock.
But who wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” and why does it matter today?Įven though most Americans know the song, the history behind it remains a mystery to many. It plays before everything from military ceremonies to football games. Upon seeing the American flag flying the next day, Francis Scott Key penned "The Star-Spangled Banner."Īs the national anthem of the United States, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is a ubiquitous part of American life. On September 13, 1814, British forces attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
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