American patriotic music
American patriotic music is a part of the culture and history of the United States since its foundation in the 18th Century. It has served to encourage feelings of honor both for the country's forefathers and for national unity. They include hymns, military themes, national songs, and musical numbers from stage and screen, as well as others adapted from many poems. Much of American patriotic music owes its origins to six main wars — the American Revolution, the American Indian Wars, the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the American Civil War, and the Spanish–American War. During the period prior to American independence, much of the country's patriotic music was aligned with the political ambitions of the British in the new land. And so, several songs are tied with the country's British origin. Colonial Era Written by Founding Father John Dickinson in 1768 to the music of William Boyce's "Heart of Oak", "The Liberty Song" is perhaps the first patriotic song ever written in America. It contains the line "by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall", which was an overture to the feelings of common blood and origin the Americans had while fighting the French and Indian War, and also the first recorded use of the sentiment. Additional songs gained prominence in keeping with British and American unity, namely "The British Grenadiers" and "God Save the King". However, with the War of Independence, the tunes of the last two were combined with new lyrics while "Yankee Doodle", long a tune and lyric addressed to the unique American population descended from the British, became widely popular. Political and cultural links between the colony and Great Britain perhaps explains the ongoing popularity of the two former tunes, despite the war for independence. "Hail Columbia" was written for George Washington's nomination. It was the de facto national anthem until 1931. It is still the vice presidential anthem today. 19th Century In 1814, Washington lawyer Francis Scott Key wrote a poem entitled "Defence of Fort McHenry" after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. Once again, owing to the American origins from British nationals, the lyrics were later set to music common to British and American sailors. But it eventually became world-famous as "The Star-Spangled Banner," and it was designated the United States' official national anthem in 1931. After centuries of struggling and fighting with hostile Native Americans, as well as diseases and forces of nature, many American residents had breached the Appalachian mountain chain, and then pushed into the wide open areas of the Far West. Thus, such songs as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," composed in 1831, have as themes natural wonder combined with freedom and liberty. Others, such as "America the Beautiful," express appreciation for the natural beauty of the United States and the hope for a better nation, wrote one hymn editor. However, in contrast to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "The Star-Spangled Banner", "America the Beautiful" does not have