The Star Spangled Banner

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are all ready for picnics, parties, and of course, fireworks. During all these festivities, I like to pause a moment and think about what the Fourth of July stands for. One of those things is celebrating the freedoms that we have here in America, the freedoms that I know I take for granted each day. This weekend, as we all celebrate how much we love America, I want to share a little history of one song everyone will hear this weekend… our national anthem!

The History

Let’s start in the year 1812. The United States has been a country now for 36 years. Our fourth President, James Madison, was living in the newly established Washington D.C., and the War of 1812 was just beginning. The war started for multiple reasons, one of which was because the United States was upset with England for restricting their trade rights and capturing people from their trade ships. The war looked like the United States was doing well… until the fall of 1814. In August, England was able to break into the Chesapeake Bay and invade Washington D.C. As a result, they were able to burn down many government buildings, as well as the President’s Mansion, and take hostages back to their ships. One of these hostages was a well known surgeon, Dr. William Beanes, who was taken by the British back to the Chesapeake Bay.

Fast forward to September 1814, when a young lawyer, Francis Scott Key, was sent by President Madison to Baltimore to negotiate the release of Dr. Beanes. He and a friend took a small boat out to talk with the British on their ships in the Chesapeake. While there, they were successful in saving Dr. Beanes, but they also learned of a British plan to bomb Fort McHenry in Baltimore. They were allowed to leave with the surgeon, but had to stay on their ship in the Bay until the attack was over. After the 25 hours of fighting was finished, everyone on the American ship expected to see the British flag on top of the fort. However, the American flag was still flying, signaling that they had not been defeated!

So What About the National Anthem?

What does all this history have to do with the national anthem, you ask? Well, after seeing the American flag flying on top of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key (who was also an amateur poet), began to write down a poem celebrating the victory. When his brother-in-law read it, he had it published under the name “Defense of Fort M’Henry” in the Baltimore newspaper. A few months later the words were set to the melody of a familiar folk song and sold in various music stores under the new name, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

For the next century or so “The Star Spangled Banner” was used, along with “Hail, Columbia” and sometimes “Yankee Doodle,” as unofficial national anthems of the United States. During the Civil War, “The Star Spangled Banner” was widely sung among the union troops. In the years following the Civil War, it continued to grow in popularity; in 1916, Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order stating “The Star Spangled Banner” would be used during all military ceremonies as the national anthem. It was not until 1931 that congress passed a bill making it the official national anthem of the United States of America.

Bringing it Home

This weekend, while celebrating with friends, let’s remember the pride our ancestors had for our country. It’s true, the Fourth of July celebrates what happened in 1776, not during the War of 1812. However, this story about our national anthem reminds us how proud Americans were of their new country and how they were willing to fight for the freedoms it stands for. Take a few moments to think about the pride our founding fathers, and also Francis Scott Key, felt for this country.

As you reflect on the lyrics below, think about what makes you most proud of the United States. Share it with us in the comments, and have a Happy Fourth of July!

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s 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?”

Sources:

9 Things You May Not Know About “The Star Spangled Banner.” (2014). History.com website. Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-star-spangled-banner

Francis Scott Key. (2015). Biography.com website. Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/francis-scott-key-9364165

The Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner. (2007). Smithsonian.com website. Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-behind-the-star-spangled-banner-149220970/?no-ist=&page=1

War of 1812. (2009). History.com website. Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/war-of-1812