OTD: The Battle that Inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner”

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there —

Lyrics from “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem after the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, which was later set to music and became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Backstory: On the evening of September 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key watched from a ship as a 25-hour battle between British and American forces took place. Key described the evening as if “Mother Earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.” He assumed the British would win but instead woke up to see the American flag waving. The experience inspired him to write lyrics that were later set to music and published under the name “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Becoming Official: “The Star-Spangled Banner” quickly became a patriotic song, played alongside other songs such as “Yankee Doodle.” It became official in 1931 when President Hoover made it the national anthem by law.

Controversy: Some critics believed the tune to be too similar to the theme song of the Society of Anacreon — a gentlemen’s club that listened to “music of questionable tastes.” The group’s theme song included lyrics referring to love and alcohol. Separately, critics in the 1900s said it was ill-suited for the normal vocal range.

Did You Know? “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays before major sporting events because of … baseball!

During WWI at the 1918 World Series (the Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Socks), “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played impromptu during the seventh-inning stretch, causing a surge of national pride amid a challenging time (a year of war and pandemic!). The Red Sox later played the song in honor of wounded soldiers at their games. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was regularly played before baseball games and a tradition was born. Other sports soon followed.

Read More: Francis Scott Key (National Park Service)

H.R.14, An Act to make The Star-Spangled Banner the national anthem of the United States of America, April 21, 1930 (U.S. Capitol Artifact Explorer)

Short History of The Star Spangled Banner (American Battlefield Trust)

From the archives: History of the national anthem in sports (ESPN)

Defense of Fort M’Henry (Poetry Foundation)