The War of 1812 inspired America’s national anthem - "The Star-Spangled Banner"

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United State, and also one of the most famous national anthems in the world. But not many people know about the interesting history behind the patriotic song. The anthem's history began the morning of September 14, 1814, when an attorney and amateur poet named Francis Scott Key watched U.S. soldiers—who were under bombardment from British naval forces during the War of 1812—raise a large American flag over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland.

While negotiating the exchange of prisoners, Francis Scott Key was held on a British ship for the entirety of the Battle of Baltimore. From his place on the ship, he could see the American Fort McHenry, which became the center of the British’s attacks. Key nervously watched hoping to see the American flag flying at the end of the bombardment, signifying that American troops still held the fort. When the attack concluded, the sight of the large American flag flying above the fort inspired Key, and on the back of a letter, he composed the first draft of a poem titled “Defence of Fort M’Henry.”

The poem was later set to music by John Stafford Smith. This patriotic song that was inspired by the war of 1812 was adopted by Congress as the U.S. national anthem in 1931.