HISTORY This Week Land of the Free? The Real Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner
Oct 23, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, historian Marc Leepson, author of a Francis Scott Key biography, unveils Key's complex ties to slavery and his surprising role in creating the national anthem. Tim Grove, a Smithsonian consultant, shares insights on the Star-Spangled Banner's debut with the Battle of Baltimore as its backdrop. They explore Key's motivations, the song's controversial lyrics, and the stark contradictions between its message of freedom and the reality of slavery in early America, all framed within a historical narrative that resonates today.
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Song Debut At Holliday Street Theatre
- On October 19, 1814, Baltimore audiences first heard a "much-admired new song" called The Star-Spangled Banner at the Holliday Street Theatre.
- The song's lyrics were written by Francis Scott Key after watching the Battle of Baltimore from a British ship.
Key's Privilege Shaped His Worldview
- Francis Scott Key was a wealthy Maryland lawyer who owned enslaved people throughout his life.
- His privileged background and lifelong slaveholding shaped his perspective and legal work.
Contradictions In Early Republic Figures
- Key's relationship with race was contradictory: he defended both enslaved people and slave catchers as a lawyer.
- This contradiction mirrored many early republic figures who condemned slavery yet maintained it personally.