Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

“The Star Spangled Banner ... Francis Scott Key may have immortalized this unspoken sentiment in his poem as he watched his country’s spangled banner fly over the bombarded Fort McHenry ...

What does it matter that some critics say the words of Francis Scott Key’s war poem were set to music of a barroom tune?“The Star-Spangled Banner” today is the national anthem of the United ...

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