what does the star spangled banner song symbolize

The poem “The Defence of Fort McHenry” would become the American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In advance of its 200th birthday, several Harvard scholars reflected on the song’s legacy, its language, and its lyricism. Inspired by the American troops who repelled the attack, Key hastily penned four verses on the back of a letter to commemorate the fight and the giant American garrison flag that still flew as dawn broke over the fort on Sept. But what hasn’t been forgotten is Key’s resultant, iconic poem. Guarded by British troops, lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key watched from a sloop, the Minden, as bombs rained on Fort McHenry in that memorable battle from the largely forgotten war.

One American had a front-row seat for that battle, which played out 200 years ago this week. More had burst in midair, showering the Americans with shrapnel.”

Armistead estimated that that as many as 1,800 shells had been fired at his fort. Langguth in his book “Union 1812: The Americans Who Fought the Second War of Independence.” “The siege had lasted twenty-five hours. “The British bombardment went on until the morning of September 14, when their guns fell silent” writes author A.J. Despite the relentless cannonade, the fort’s commander, George Armistead, refused to surrender. stronghold built to guard Baltimore from naval assault.

13, 1814, British troops launched a land and sea attack on Fort McHenry, a star-shaped U.S. During the War of 1812, on the rainy morning of Sept.

What does the star spangled banner song symbolize