“Birth of an Anthem” 1 When the United States entered the conflict in 1812, France and Britain, two of Europe’s most powerful countries, had been battling since 1793. President James Madison declared war to protect American ships from the constant search and seizures conducted by the British and French. During this time, American seamen were captured and forced to serve in the British navy.

2 In 1814, Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and poet, boarded a British frigate under a truce to arrange for the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been imprisoned by the British due to his arrest of British soldiers during the attack on Washington, D. C. While onboard, Key witnessed the British bombardment of nearby Fort McHenry. The battle was so intense that smoke made it impossible to see. When the smoke cleared, Key saw the United States flag still waving vigilantly over the fort. This vision inspired the words to a poem called “The Star-Spangled Banner.””

3 After a Boston newspaper featured the poem, it soon became popular. Ironically, it was set to the tune of a popular song created by a British composer. “The Star-Spangled Banner” did not become the United States national anthem until 1931, when Congress established it as such.

The author of the passage assumes that the reader will know which of the following before reading the passage:

Your

what the “conflict” is that the United States Entered in 1812.

the tunes of popular songs in 1800.

that Francis Scott Key was a lawyer and a poet.

Congressional proceedures for establishing a national anthem.