Shani Mungai

Dr. Sarah Ingle

ENGW 104: 88161

12/3/2023

The Star-Spangled Banner

The United States of America has had a lot of history, when we finally gained freedom

from the British colonies on July 4, 1776 (signing of the Declaration of Independence). “The

Star-Spangled Banner” that was written on Sept. 14, 1814, by Francis Scott Key. “The Star-

Spangled Banner” has been a part of U.S history for over 200 years. This patriotic song was

written by Francis Scott Key on Sept. 14, 1814, during the War of 1812 with Great Britain and

was adopted by Congress as the U.S. national anthem in 1931. Looking back in history “The

Star- Spangled Banner” holds significant importance to the people of the United States, which

leads me to the other point that the song should not be changed due to its history when history

needs to be preserved and not changed.

When we look at history, it's something that needs to be kept and held onto for as long as

it , and when it comes to the history of “The Star-Spangled-Banner" there's so much history

behind it as why I think that it should be kept as our national anthem and that it shouldn’t be

changed. There was a war ongoing in 1812 as stated “British troops invaded Washington, D.C.

and set fire to the White House, the Capitol and other government buildings.” Eshelman, “The

Star-Spangled Banner,” pg.1. Looking back in history the battle of 1812 had occurred and what

led to the song being created later in the year by Francis Scott Key. So, when we fast forward to

around September of 1812 this is where Key witnessed America win the war that inspired the

song as stated “On September 13, U.S. soldiers at Baltimore’s Fort McHenry withstood some 25

hours of British bombardment. Early the next morning, they hoisted a gigantic U.S. flag over the

fort, marking a crucial victory and a turning point in what would be considered a second war of

American independence.” History.com Editors, “The Star-Spangled Banner, pg. 1.

events but this one specifically holds great importance as to being used in ceremonies, events as

stated “By the 1890s, the U.S military had adopted the song for ceremonial purposes, playing it

to accompany the raising and lowering of the colors.”History.com Editors, “The Star-Spangled

Banner”, pg. 1. Here we learn how the song was held of significant importance to be used in

dedicated events such as raising and lowering the flag of The United States of America. Later,

we also learn how it was signed into become the National Anthem of the United States as stated,

“In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order designating it “the national

anthem of the United States.” History.com Editors “The Star-Spangled Banner,” pg.1. Where we

see that the song held significant importance close to over 200 years after it was written back in

1814 by Francis Scott Key, for it to even be considered by one of our presidents into becoming

the National Anthem of the United States of America. Hence this being one of the main reasons

that the song “The Star-Spangled Banner” should not be changed as our National Anthem.

With importance we can look back into how it has held importance in more events such

as sports as stated, “The Star-Spangled Banner” made its sporting event debut in September

1918, during that year’s first World Series game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red

Sox.” History.com Editors, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” pg. 1. As you can see it was that

important that it made its way debuting from ceremonial events, military events to now being

used in sporting events etc. How it become more involved in other sports such as the apart from

the baseball league as stated, “The practice soon spread across major league baseball, and into

other sports, and eventually became a widely accepted pregame tradition.” History.com Editors,

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” pg. 1. So here we learn again that it was becoming more common

and popular in demand and that it was being used in other sports such as football, basketball etc.

So, as you see “The Star- Spangled Banner” just holds too much importance from all the reasons

and statements from various sources stated above to just be randomly forgotten or changed as

our national anthem. It needs it to remain that way, it does not need to change. “The Star-

Spangled Banner” is just fine as our national anthem, and do not see any reason for change.
 In the paragraphs stated above we talked of how the importance of how the song has been

continued to be used during national ceremonies such as in the military as well as it being used in

sporting events which would highlight to become a tradition for many years now, as stated “The

tradition of singing the national anthem at the start of major sporting events introduced numerous

diverse and memorable renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” . Blumberg, “The Star-

Spangled Banner,” pg.1. When we look at traditions, they are something that kept for prolonged

times and passed on from generations, which is another reason as to why “The Star-Spangled

Banner” should be kept as our national anthem as it has become a huge tradition in American

history for over 200 years now and we should not change that. Tradition is Something that holds

importance in many cultures, different countries, different generations . etc. So that is why “The

Star-Spangled Banner” should not be changed as it holds significant importance to the American

People and is a serious tradition that should be kept alive for many more generations to come.

Tradition is important so that is why we should not change it and should keep the Anthem.

Some more importance that it holds is that years later after it was signed by President

Wilson to become the national anthem it was also made official as stated “In 1931—more than

100 years after it was composed—Congress passed a measure declaring “The Star-Spangled

Banner” as the official national anthem.” History.com Editors, “The Star- Spangled Banner”,

pg.1. So, as you see more than a century later “The Star- Spangled Banner” was still considered

important in the United States for it to still have remained our national anthem and not be

changed. This goes to show that it does not need to be changed if no one thought that it was a

problem enough to change it from the time it was created back in 1814 and now it being over 2

centuries old and it still being our national anthem means that it should not change in my own

opinion. There are a lot of facts and evidence that just goes to show the significant importance

that "The Star- Spangled Banner” holds and that is just more of reason that it should not have to

change and that it should continue to remain the national anthem of the country. No one finding

it an issue in the congress or any government official including the President of the United States

of America, goes to show that it should remain as is with no change needed now or in the future.
 Although "The Star-Spangled Banner holds great importance and history to The United

States. The famous song has also been found controversial as to how it ties down negative

conations that include racism, sexism etc. as stated “The "Star Spangled Banner" contains

“racism,” elitism and even sexism embedded in its third and fourth stanzas. These sentiments

have no place in the national anthem of a democracy that claims that all men (and women) are

created equal.” -The Change. This statement talks about how the song includes foul things such

as racism, sexism and other things which would have no reason for it to be seen as our national

anthem. Which I see their point where they talk about racism, but do not completely agree that

the song full on highlights/displays racism all throughout. The song does go on to show unity

and is about bringing the American people together as one and as a country. Hence why the song

is used at many ceremonial events such as the military or at school assemblies or even sports

games such as the MLB (Major League Association) or the NBA (National Basketball

Association) just to name a few that continue to use “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the Anthem.

In Conclusion, I think that “The Star-Spangled Banner should stay the same but should

stay the same due the importance that it holds importance and that our national anthem is

considered to be America's most important symbol of who we are and what we stand for by the

American people. I always think that history should be preserved and held on to not changed, the

song has held on too many historical events as listed above such as being used in the military, as

well as for ceremonial events, sporting events and the list goes on. The history that it holds when

it was written after the battle that occurred as stated “Key’s poem/song became a big hit almost

immediately. Within a week of the battle, it was printed up under the title of “Defiance of Fort

McHenry.” McCollum, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” pg. 1. This just goes back to show the

significance and the history of song and why we should not change the song and keep it as our

national anthem. There is no need to change something that holds great value to The United

States of America. Overall, my final argument and conclusion is that the national anthem “The

Star-Spangled Banner” should not be changed and should remain. I support this due to my strong

and contestable thesis as well as the argument that is stated above which proves this conclusion.