The Star-Spangled Banner facts for kids
The Star-Spangled Banner is the official national anthem of the United States. A national anthem is a special song that represents a country. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to this song in 1814. He wrote it after watching a big battle during the War of 1812. British ships were attacking Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland.
The words of the song are set to the tune of an old British song. This song was called "To Anacreon in Heaven". The Star-Spangled Banner has four parts, called stanzas. However, people usually only sing the first stanza.
Contents
The Story Behind the Song
A War and a Fort
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain. In September 1814, British forces attacked Baltimore, Maryland. Their goal was to capture the city. A very important place to defend Baltimore was Fort McHenry. This fort protected the city's harbor.
Francis Scott Key's Experience
During the battle, Francis Scott Key was on a ship. He was trying to arrange a prisoner exchange. He watched the British ships bombarding Fort McHenry all night long. It was a very intense battle. Rockets lit up the sky, and bombs exploded.
The Flag Still Waved
When morning came, Key was worried. He wondered if the American flag was still flying over the fort. Through the smoke and mist, he finally saw it. The large American flag was still waving proudly. This sight filled him with great relief and pride. It meant that the Americans had held their ground.
Writing the Poem
Key was so moved by what he saw. He immediately started writing a poem. He wrote it on the back of a letter. The poem was first called "Defence of Fort M'Henry." It described the battle and his feelings. Later, the poem was set to music. It became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The Lyrics We Sing
The first part of the song is the one most people know. It asks if you can still see the flag. It talks about the "rockets' red glare" and "bombs bursting in air." These lines describe the battle Key saw. They show how the flag kept flying through the night. The song ends by celebrating America as "the land of the free and the home of the brave."
O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ 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?
Becoming the National Anthem
For many years, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was a popular patriotic song. It was sung at many events. However, it did not become the official national anthem right away. It took a long time for that to happen.
Official Recognition
On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a law. This law officially made "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States. Since then, it has been a symbol of American pride. It is played at sporting events, ceremonies, and other important gatherings.
Images for kids
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Francis Scott Key's original manuscript copy of his "Defence of Fort M'Henry" poem. It is now on display at the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
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An artist's rendering of the battle at Fort McHenry.
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Sheet music version.
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The memorial to John Stafford Smith in Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England. He composed the music.
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Commemorative plaque in Washington, D.C. marking the site at 601 Pennsylvania Avenue where "The Star-Spangled Banner" was first publicly sung.
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Cover of sheet music for "The Star-Spangled Banner", transcribed for piano by Ch. Voss, Philadelphia: G. Andre & Co., 1862.
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Crowd performing the U.S. national anthem before a baseball game at Coors Field.
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O'er the ramparts we watch in a 1945 United States Army Air Forces poster.
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Plaque detailing how the custom of standing during the Anthem came about in Tacoma, Washington, on October 18, 1893, in the Bostwick building.
See also
In Spanish: The Star-Spangled Banner para niños
