Which event in the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
Question
Which event in the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
Solution
The event that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner" was the Battle of Fort McHenry. Here are the steps that led to this:
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The War of 1812: This was a conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom that lasted from 1812 to 1815.
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The Battle of Fort McHenry: This battle took place in Baltimore, Maryland, from September 13 to September 14, 1814. The British navy bombarded the fort as part of their campaign to control the Chesapeake Bay and open a path to Washington, D.C.
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Francis Scott Key: He was a lawyer and amateur poet who was on a British ship during the battle to negotiate the release of an American prisoner. He witnessed the bombardment from this ship.
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The morning after the bombardment, Key saw that the American flag was still flying over Fort McHenry, indicating that the fort had not fallen to the British. This sight inspired him to write a poem titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry."
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This poem was later set to music and became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner." It was officially designated as the national anthem of the United States in 1931.
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