The night the Star-Spangled Banner was written

 

"The Star-Spangled Banner" was written on the night of September 13-14, 1814, during the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain. The poem, originally titled "The Defence of Fort McHenry," was composed by Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, who was inspired by the sight of the American flag flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor after a British bombardment.

Key had been aboard a British ship negotiating the release of American prisoners when the bombardment of Fort McHenry began. Throughout the night, he watched anxiously to see if the fort, which protected the city of Baltimore, would withstand the British assault. When the morning light revealed the American flag still flying, it signaled American victory and resilience in the face of adversity.

Moved by the sight, Key penned the words to what would become the national anthem of the United States. The poem was quickly set to the tune of a popular British song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," and later became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Key's poem, with its vivid imagery and patriotic sentiment, captures the spirit of American resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, making it a fitting anthem for the nation. In 1931, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States.