1. The Star Spangled Banner
The Story of Our National Anthem

2. Francis Scott Key & The Star Spangled Banner
Hello, I’m Francis Scott Key. I have a story to tell you about a great American flag. The flag flew strong while British and American soldiers fought a battle during the War of After, I wrote lyrics for a song about the flag that later became our national anthem.

3. America Under Threat
The Americans believed the British were encouraging Native Americans to attack settlements of U.S. citizens near the western frontier of our young nation.
Meanwhile, military ships from England (under King George III) and France (under Napoleon Bonaparte) were capturing American merchant ships; captured American sailors were being forced to serve in the British Royal Navy.

4. America Declares War June 18, 1812
After four years of British attacks, United States President James Madison signed a declaration of war against King George III, king of Great Britain and Ireland.
President James Madison
King George III

5. Baltimore, Maryland
Fort McHenry was built to defend the city of Baltimore, which was an important international seaport. When war was declared, the people of Baltimore knew they would need Fort McHenry to help protect them.

6. Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry was built in the shape of a five-pointed star. Ramparts, or low dirt walls, surrounded the fort and helped to keep it strong.

7. Fort McHenry and the Flag
In the summer of 1813 Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry, decided the fort needed a flag that the British could see from a great distance.

8. Mary Pickersgill Makes Giant Flag for Fort McHenry
The flag, which had 15 stars and 15 stripes, was so big it had to be assembled on the floor of a neighboring brewery. When it was finished, the flag was 30 feet wide and 42 feet long and weighed over 200 pounds!

9. Washington D.C. Is Burning
In the summer of 1814, President Madison was forced to flee Washington D.C. when British troops captured the city, burning many buildings, including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the Library of Congress.

10. Tornado Saves Washington, D.C.
Incredibly, a hurricane spawned a tornado, which put out fires set by the British and wiped out many British soldiers.

11. The Battle of Fort McHenry Begins
I was working as a lawyer when President Madison asked me to help obtain the release of my friend, a doctor being held prisoner aboard a British ship.
The British released Dr. Beanes, but attacked Fort McHenry at 6:30 a.m. on September 13, 1814, as we watched helplessly from the ship.

12. A Fierce Battle
The British bombed Fort McHenry for hours. Around noon, thunderstorms added to the noise of the battle.
As early evening, or twilight, approached, the battle continued. But the rockets’ red glare and
the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

13. The Battle Ends
At dawn’s early light I saw that our flag’s broad stripes and bright stars still wove through the perilous fight. After nearly 25 hours, the British stopped the bombardment. A few months later, they surrendered the war.
Seeing the battle made me think: “. . .does not such a country and such defenders deserve a song?”

14. My Song Is Done
While still aboard the boat, I began to write about what I had seen. Once I was back on land, I quickly drafted my song in 4 verses. It was published on September 17, 1814, just a few days after the bombardment of Fort McHenry!

15. My Song Becomes a Hit
Soon after, Thomas Carr’s Music Store in Baltimore published my song in sheet-music format. It instantly became a big hit!

16. My Song Becomes the National Anthem
In 1889 the Secretary of the Navy orders that the first verse of The Star Spangled Banner be played at morning flag-raising ceremonies.
By 1917 the song is regarded as the official national anthem by the U.S. Armed Forces.
In 1931 Congress passes a law making The Star Spangled Banner the official national anthem of the United States.

17. My Song Is Published Again and Again
Slightly different versions of my song were published over the years and each featured a different design. What design would you create for The Star Spangled Banner? While you think about it, let’s make sure you know the words to the first verse!

18. Credits
COURTESY OF: This presentation was developed by the American Memory Initiative of Barat Education Foundation through the support of the United States Congress and The Library of Congress.
SPECIAL THANKS: This presentation was designed and created by the individuals listed below.
Wendy Wiegers 2005 Barat Teacher Scholar
Julie Schaul Project Development Director
Justine Braskich Community Relations Manager
Marita Decker Program Director
John K. Schaul Narrator

19. Citations (1)
Slide 1: Dressler, William, publisher. “The Star spangled banner : national song / Stackpole, sc.” Circa Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [color film copy transparency: cph 3g02895]
Slide 2: Moran, Percy. "The Star Spangled Banner." Circa Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [color film copy transparency: cph 3g06200]
Slide 3: Detroit Publishing Company. "U.S.S. Constitution and H.M.S. Java." Photograph of a painting dated Dec. 23, 1812, created between 1900 and Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection. [det 4a26410]
Slide 4: "James Madison." Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [cph 3b34361] "His most sacred majesty George III, King of Great Britain." Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [cph 3a10456]
Slide 5: Folie, A.P. "Plan of the town of Baltimore and it's [sic] environs." Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. [g3844b ct000792]
Slide 6: Wiegers, Dave. “Ramparts at Fort McHenry.” 2005.

20. Citations (2)
Slide 7: Wiegers, Dave. “George Armistead.” Bufford, J.H. from a drawing by Corporal E.S. Lloyd, of Dodd's Carvers. "Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md., 1861, occupied by the 3rd Battalion of Rifles, M.V.M." Circa Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [cph 3b39701]
Slide 8: “Mary Young Pickersgill ( ).” Circa [MSA SC ] Accessed from the Maryland State Archives (08/05). “The Star-Spangled Banner at the Boston Navy Yard.” Accessed (10/05), with permission from the American Antiquarian Society, from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History website (
Slide 9: Fores, S.W., publisher. “The fall of Washington--or Maddy in full flight.” British Cartoon Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [cph 3g03115]
Slide 10: Thompson, G., publisher. “The taking of the city of Washington in America.” 1814 Oct. 14. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [cph 3g04555]

21. Citations (3)
Slide 11: “Francis Scott Key, ” Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. [cph 3b00995]
Slide 12: Bower, J. “A View of the Bombardment of Fort McHenry.” Accessed from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (08/05).
Slide 13: Wiegers, Dave. “Flag at Fort McHenry.” 2005.
Slide 14: Key, Francis Scott. “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Washington, D.C., 1840 Holograph Music Division. [ML95.K49] Key, Francis Scott. “Defence of Fort McHenry.” Accessed from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (08/05).
Slide 15: Key, Francis Scott ( ). "The Star-Spangled Banner.” Baltimore: Thomas Carr, Printed sheet music. Music Division Purchase, [M S7 M1]
Slide 16: Horydczak, Theodor. “Charlotte Hall Military Academy. Marching with flags and rifles.” Circa Theodor Horydczak Collection (Library of Congress). [thc 5a36462]

22. Citations (4)
Slide 17: De Marsan, H., publisher. “The star-spangled banner.” America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. [sb40475a] Andrews, J., publisher. “The star spangled banner. Andrews' Printer, 38 Chatham Street, N. Y.” America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. [as113140] Johnson, J.H., publisher. “Star spangled banner. J. H. Johnson, Song Publisher, ... Phila.” America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. [cw ]