Our National Anthem

The Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem, is a beautiful song written by Francis Scott Key the day after the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor by British forces during the War of 1812. This assault followed the capture and burning of Washington, DC by the British. Clearly, our nation was in peril. Key was being held prisoner aboard the British ship Minden when the attack began. Key knew losing Fort McHenry and Baltimore would be disastrous for America and wondered if this land of the free and home of the brave could survive the war with England.