where did the star spangled banner song wroate

However, in 1916, the year before the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order stating that The Star-Spangled Banner should be played whenever the performance of a national anthem was appropriate, thus superseding Hail Columbia. Hail Columbia was sung at President George Washington’s first inauguration. It eventually wained in popularity and was replaced by the Star-Spangled Banner in 1931. It was set to music by Philip Phile and used for the first inauguration of George Washington under the name ‘The President’s March.’ The song served as the national anthem for most of the 19th century. The first national anthem of the United States was (unofficially) ‘Hail Columbia’, written by Joseph Hopkinson in 1798. It took just a few days before the Baltimore Patriot newspaper reprinted the words. It had previously been adopted for a song called ‘Adams and Liberty’ by supporters of John Adams. That song had been called ‘To Anacreon in Heaven.’ It had already become a popular number in the United States and was not the first time the Americans had used the music. Oddly enough, the song was set to a British song, a popular drinking song composed by John Stafford Smith for a London gentleman’s social club. Within days the song was picked up by newspapers across the United States. On completing four stanzas, he named the song ‘Defense of Fort M’Henry.’ Key’s brother-in-law Joseph Nicholson had the words printed for distribution. The piece was created as an emotional response to a battle between the British and Americans, explaining its anti-British references.

Still aboard the ship, Key composed the song’s verse, capturing this moment on the back of a letter. Many people felt that the British flag would be flying above the fort by morning, but to everyone’s relief, they met the dawn and saw the American flag still flying. He was on a ship moored in Baltimore harbor and saw the impressive aerial explosions above the city. He was there to try and negotiate the release of a friend who was being held captive. The USS Constitution scored several victories over British ships during the War of 1812.Ĭoincidently, Francis Scott Key, who had previously opposed the war, was also in Baltimore. The British began their bombardment of Fort McHenry in wet and misty conditions. Things were looking difficult for the American forces, and on the evening of September 14th. The Battle of Baltimoreīaltimore was a significant seaport and became a target for the British. However, in 1814, they had regrouped, and the course of the war was beginning to turn in their favor. The British were already fighting a major war with France, and their forces were spread thin across several fronts. In the early stages of the war, the American forces had some remarkable victories. The United States declared war on Great Britain in June 1812. Consequently, the British were impeding the westward expansion of the United States. To maintain the manpower to support such a large navy, the British controversially recruited United States navy personnel into their navy. The United States declared war on Great Britain in June of 1812.

At that time, the British navy was the most powerful globally. A contributing factor to the war was Great Britain’s interference with American trade using its powerful navy. The War of 1812 was primarily a conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom, although the French also impacted its outcome.

How The Star-Spangled Banner Was Written.

Where did the star spangled banner song wroate