What is the National Anthem of the United States?

The United States of America is one of the most powerful countries in the world, known for its strong economy, technological advancements, and military capabilities. 

Additionally, it is ranked #3 as the best country overall, with a whopping score of 94.2 out of 100. According to US News, it is recognised as the 27th most trustworthy country in the world. Its national anthem reflects its strong commitment to serving its country's people.

The Star-Spangled Banner serves as the national anthem of the United States, its lyrics derived from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem composed by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814. 

Key wrote this poem after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy during the Battle of Baltimore in 1812.

What is the National Anthem of America?

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The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics of this national anthem were inspired by a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key. 

He wrote this poem after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in 1812 by the British Royal Navy.

He was inspired by the large U.S. flag, with 15 stars and 15 stripes, known as the Star-Spangled Banner, flying triumphantly above the fort after the battle. 

The poem wasn't originally intended for that purpose. It was set to the music of a well-known British tune, "To Anacreon in Heaven" (also called "The Anacreontic Song"). 

This song was written by John Stafford Smith for a London social club and had already gained popularity in the United States with different lyrics. 

When this poem was paired with Smith's melody and renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner", it quickly became a beloved patriotic song. 

Interestingly, the melody spans a challenging 19 semitones, making it notoriously difficult to sing, especially since the version we sing today is the soprano part. 

Although the complete poem has four stanzas, we typically only sing the first one, with the subsequent stanzas being quite rarely heard.

5 Facts About the National Anthem of USA

• The United States Navy first officially recognised "The Star-Spangled Banner" in 1889.
• It became the official national anthem of the United States on March 3, 1931, thanks to a joint resolution passed by Congress (46 Stat. 1508) and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover.
• The song is famously hard for non-professional singers due to its wide vocal range of a twelfth. Humorist Richard Armour even joked about this difficulty in his book, It All Started With Columbus.
• The 200th anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was celebrated in 2014 with numerous special events across the country.
• During the early days of the American Civil War in 1861, poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr wrote an unofficial fifth verse expressing hope for the emancipation of slaves.

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