THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER The Star-Spangled Banner became the national anthem of the United States of America in 1931 When it was written 117 years before it was simply a poem about a special flag That special flag was a symbol of freedom It represented the bravery and patriotism of the citizens of the United States of America This is what the flag looked like in 1814 when the song was written 4
Freedom Fact When The Star-Spangled Banner is played people place their right hand over their heart to show respect 5
THE WAR OF 1812 When the Revolutionary War ended in 1783 the United States had won its independence from Britain The young country was becoming prosperous Trade with other countries increased 6 America and Britain negotiated the Treaty of Paris which ended the American Revolutionary War
France had supported America in its war for independence So the U S and France had a good trade relationship But in the early 1800s Britain who was now at war with France started interfering with French and American trade British ships would stop American ships and search them They kidnapped British born American sailors The sailors were forced to work for the British Navy Because they needed more sailors in their navy the British attacked American ships and impressed any sailors who had been born in Britain 7
