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Today in 1814 Helped to Inspire the National Anthem

The Battle of Baltimore wasn’t just another skirmish in the War of 1812—it was a high-stakes showdown that went down on September 13, 1814, and it set the stage for one of the most iconic anthems in history. The British, fresh off burning down Washington, D.C., were feeling pretty confident and decided to go after Baltimore, Maryland, hoping to crush the Americans’ spirits once and for all. Their plan? Blast their way through Fort McHenry, the key fortress standing guard over Baltimore’s harbor, and then sail in like they owned the place.

Now, enter Francis Scott Key, a lawyer—not a soldier—who found himself tangled up in this mess in a most unexpected way. His friend, Dr. William Beanes, had been captured by the British, and Key had boarded a British ship to negotiate his release. The Brits, worried that Key might spill the beans on their attack plans, decided to keep him and his companions on board as “guests” for the time being.

So there Key was, stuck on a British ship, watching as the enemy unleashed a fiery barrage of rockets and bombs on Fort McHenry throughout the night of September 13. It was an epic, all-out assault. The British pounded the fort, but the American defenders stood their ground, refusing to give up.

Then, just as the sun began to rise on September 14, something incredible happened. Through the smoke and the chaos, Key spotted Fort McHenry’s massive 30-by-42-foot American flag still flying proudly above the fort’s walls. The British had failed to take the fort, and the flag’s survival was a stunning symbol of American grit and resilience.

Inspired by that awe-inspiring sight, Key grabbed a pen and poured his feelings into a poem he called "Defence of Fort M'Henry." This heartfelt tribute to the “broad stripes and bright stars” of the American flag would eventually be set to music and become the anthem we know today as "The Star-Spangled Banner."

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