The national anthem is one of the important aspects in a sovereign state besides the territory and the flag. It is not just a song about the country, but within the composition itself there are stories and facts as important as the history of the state. Rabaseda (2012) defines the national anthem as a musical composition, patriotic in general, that evokes and tells the story and struggle of the people in a particular state. It is mainly used during a national important day and military honors. The national anthem also serves as an important identity and unifying factor as a country. One of the most famous national anthems is "The Star - Spangled Banner", which is the national anthem of the United States of America (USA). The history behind the anthem can be traced back to 1812. At that time, the United States of America already had its independence from the British Empire. Not even three decades after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which formalized Britain's recognition of the United States of America, the two countries were once again in conflict and represented the beginning of new challenges for America as a new nation. Resentment of Great Britain's interference with American international trade and the impression of American sailors combined with American expansionist views led Congress to declare war on the British Empire on June 18, 1812. The war took place all along the coast eastern United States (Perry, 2000). At that time, the Washington lawyer and amateur poet was named Francis Scott Key. He composed a poem about how terrible the war was, especially during the attack on Fort McHenry. The fort still stands after being continuously bombed by the British Empire. After witnessing the massive British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland overnight, Key wrote in a newspaper telling people of the nation's perseverance and struggle to achieve its independence. The same goes for the American national anthem. There was talk of an American war against the British Empire to defend its independence. Works Cited Butterworth, Hezekiah; Brown, Theron (1906). The history of hymns and melodies. George H. Doran Co. p. 335Leonard, H., 1996. National Anthems from Around the World, New York: Hal Leonard Company. p 210-216Perry, M, 2000. National Anthems: A Call to Arms. Available at: http://users.dickinson.edu/~history/product/perry/national_anthem.html Accessed: 18 March 2014Rabaseda, J. (1996) Els himnes nacionals. Published February 2012. Rosenberg, J. 2005. History of the Star-Spangled Banner. Available at: http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/qt/The-Star-Spangled-Banner.htm. Access: March 18th 2014