by David S. Shaw

Created on: February 17, 2008   Last Updated: February 21, 2008

Star Spangled America
August 1814, Washington is burning and Francis Scott Key is being held by the British as they try to bomb Baltimore into submission. After a night of shelling Fort McHenry, he looks across the water for a sign that the attack has failed. As the cloud of smoke clears he sees a large flag fluttering in the wind. The Stars and Stripes, as it has become known, proudly waves, defying the might of the British. They free Mr Key and his companions and leave.

The sight of the flag in the smoke and haze of the early morning inspire him to write a poem on the back of an envelope. He called it "Defence of Fort McHenry". It would later become more popularly known as "The Star Spangled Banner". It's tune taken from a popular British drinking song of the time "The Anacreontic Song".

As inspirational as it was, it wasn't until 3rd March 1931 it was made into the American National anthem by a Congressional Resolution. Even though the American Navy had been using it for Official functions since 1889. And in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson ordered it played at all Military and appropriate functions. As "Hail Columbia" was the de facto anthem from President Washington's time perhaps it was time for a change.

America had gone through massive changes since Washington was President, there were now fifty states instead of the original thirteen. America was starting to come out of the depression. Americans in 1932 also saw the world as a whole differently. The memory of World War 1 fresh in their minds and communism on the rise in Russia and asserting it's self in Europe probably gave them the need for a anthem that would rouse the nation in a time of need. "The Star Spangled Banner" was as patriotic as you could get.

In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates was taking the train to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to teach English at summer school. The beauty of the country she was in moved her to write "America The Beautiful". She was lucky enough to hear it after it was put to music by Samuel A. Ward in 1882. By the time of her death in 1929 it was well established as a national treasure.

In recent years "The Star Spangled Banner" has been criticized for it's war orientated lyrics and there has been calls for it to be replaced with "America The Beautiful". Katherine Bates lyrics have been used along side Francis Keys at various functions since September the 11th 2001. Most notably it was quoted by news reader Dan Rather on the Late Show with David Letterman just after nine-eleven.

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