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Francis Scott Key and the Writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Francis Scott Key was a successful 35-year old lawyer and amateur poet. He witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry from an American ship anchored about eight miles away in the Patapsco River. A Maryland native, Key had a successful law practice in the District of Columbia. As a member of the opposition party, he opposed the War of 1812 for political reasons. As a devout Christian, he had moral objections to the attempted invasion of Canada. In 1813, he wrote a friend that he would rather see the American flag lowered in disgrace than have it stand for persecution and dishonor.

By the time a large British fleet moved into the Chesapeake Bay in August 1814, Key found he had changed his mind. He was present at the humiliating American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg. He also witnessed the burning of the Capitol and other public buildings in Washington. He wanted the war to end, but thought there was “no hope for peace.”

Key went to Patapsco to negotiate the release of a prominent local doctor whom the British had taken prisoner. On September 5, he set out from Baltimore to meet the British fleet. The officers on board the British flagship agreed to release Dr. Beanes. However, they would not let the Americans return to Baltimore until after the coming battle. They sent the men back to their small ship, which was kept under armed guard. Helplessly, Key watched the British bombard Fort McHenry. Early in the morning of September 14, Key noticed that the British had stopped firing. He strained to see whether the flag had been taken down, which would mean that the fort had surrendered.


The bombardment of Fort McHenry
At about the same time, Fort McHenry’s garrison raised a huge flag. Major Armistead had specifically asked for a “flag so large that the British will have no difficulty in seeing it from a distance.” The enemy was duly impressed. When Key saw the flag, he realized that the fort had survived the bombardment. Baltimore was safe.

Many years later, he described his feelings:

“Through the clouds of war, the stars of that banner still shone in my view… Then, in that hour of deliverance and joyful triumph, my heart spoke, and ‘Does not such a country, and such defenders of their country, deserve a song?’ was its question.”


A 1912 painting by Edward Moran showing Francis Scott Key seeing the American flag waving above Baltimore’s Fort McHenry
Key scribbled down the first words of his song on the back of a piece of paper and finished it back on shore. He took the draft to Judge Nicholson, a relative by marriage who had served at Fort McHenry during the bombardment. Nicholson liked it very much. He may have been the person who took it to the Baltimore American. That newspaper immediately printed it as a large poster-like broadside and began distributing it around Baltimore. Each man at Fort McHenry received a copy. The text appeared in the Baltimore Patriot on September 20 and in the Baltimore American the following day. By mid-October, at least 17 other newspapers on the East Coast had published the new song. Some time during the first two weeks of November, it was set to music as “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The original broadside said that Key’s poem should be performed to the tune “Anacreon in Heaven.” This tune was popular in the United States at the time, and Key himself had already written one set of lyrics for it. This song was originally composed in the mid-1770s as the club song for a London society.


The music to the Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key died on January 11, 1843. Flags flew at half-mast in mourning in Baltimore and Washington. The Baltimore American published his obituary two days later. It said, “So long as patriotism dwells among us, so long will this song be the theme of our nation.”

Source: The National Park Service, Public Domain, adapted by the Freckle Team

According to Key’s own words, why did he write "The Star-Spangled Banner"?

He wanted to write the song as an act of patriotism.

He wanted to write the song celebrate the triumph of his country.

He wanted to write the song because the soldiers were tired.

He wanted to write the song to make the army more money.
What does the word “disgrace” mean as used in the text?

Shame

Pride

Honor

Doubt
What does the fourth paragraph contribute to the passage?

It explains how Francis Scott Key’s song gained popularity.

It explains how Francis Scott Key got the inspiration for "The Star-Spangled Banner.”

It explains that Francis Scott Key was able to negotiate the release of the doctor.

It explains who Francis Scott Key was and his role in the battle at Fort McHenry.
Which of the following would best help the reader understand the information in the second to last paragraph?

A map of where the battle was fought

An audio clip of the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven”

A portrait of Francis Scott Key

A list of the different tunes used for Key’s song

Answer 1

1. According to Key’s own words, why did he write "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
**He wanted to write the song to celebrate the triumph of his country.**

2. What does the word “disgrace” mean as used in the text?
**Shame**

3. What does the fourth paragraph contribute to the passage?
**It explains how Francis Scott Key’s song gained popularity.**

4. Which of the following would best help the reader understand the information in the second to last paragraph?
**An audio clip of the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven.”**