by then, and had even been used previously by defenders of John Adams for a song called “Adams and Liberty.” This reprinting came with a note that the poem should be accompanied by the melody for an English drinking song by John Stafford Smith called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The boozy anthem was quite popular in the U.S. Wikimedia Commons The song was set to the music of a popular British drinking song written by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society - a gentlemen’s social club in London - called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” sailors into the British Royal Navy and slowing westward expansion, America declared war in June 1812. The war mostly erupted due to British interference with American trade. The War of 1812 was mostly a battle between the United States and the United Kingdom, but France also played a pivotal role in the war’s development.

In order to understand why the national anthem was created, it’s imperative to put contemporary political history into context. When And Where The National Anthem Was Written Many Americans have a collectively hazy recollection about the country’s national anthem, but the fact that we usually only sing about one-fourth of the song probably has something to do with it.įrankly, a thorough examination of the tune is long overdue. It was simply a British tune borrowed out of convenience.

Wikimedia Commons The flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired the national anthem.įurthermore, the musical foundation of the song wasn’t even original. 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.

Lyrics of the star spangled banner song