Why did Francis Scott Key write "The Star-Spangled Banner"?

Answer 1

Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1814 during the War of 1812, specifically after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. As a lawyer and a part-time poet, Key was inspired after he saw the American flag (the "star-spangled banner") still flying over the fort at dawn following the intense night of shelling. His poem, originally titled "Defence of Fort McHenry," celebrated the resilience and bravery of the American defenders and became a symbol of national pride. The poem was later set to music and adopted as the national anthem of the United States.