Star Spangled Banner
Promotion Test Part 1
Origins
• Author: Francis Scott Key
• Published: 1814
• Original name: The Defence of Fort
McHenry
• Music: from a popular drinking song
War of 1812
• United States went to war with Great
Britain over:
– Violations of US sovereignty
– Lack of recognition in international commerce
– Impressments of US sailors
– Trouble with Indians along western frontier
US invades Canada
• US wanted to add Canada to US territory
• Invasion unsuccessful
• US troops burn Canadian capital, Toronto
History 1
• 1814 British burn Washington DC in
retaliation for Toronto and plan attack on
Baltimore Maryland
History 2
• British plan to attack Baltimore and
destroy all American ships and shipbuilding industry
History 3
• Fort McHenry is vital
to protecting
Baltimore
• British must destroy
or capture Fort
McHenry
History 4
• On September 7,
1814, Francis S. Key
boards British warship
outside Baltimore to
help release a friend
who is a prisoner
History 5
• Key is forced to
remain aboard until
after attack on Fort
McHenry and
becomes witness to
battle
History 6
• British used
incendiary weapons
to try to blow up fort
– Heated Shot
– Explosive Shell
(bombs)
– Rocket
History 7
• Attack went all night
ending just before
dawn
• Only light came from
exploding shells and
rockets
History 8
• Throughout battle
Americans
maintained a flag
flying above Fort
McHenry
• Flag was enormous
and had 15 stars
and 15 stripes
History 9
• When bombardment ended it was still
night and no one, including Key could
tell if the Americans had lowered the
flag which would signal surrender
History 10
• At dawn, sunlight revealed the huge flag
still flying.
• British attack had failed
• Baltimore was saved
• Americans celebrated
Protocol 1
• Anthem played and sung at:
– Military bases at sunset
– Sporting events
– National holidays and celebrations
Protocol 2
• When played, Americans should
– Stand
– Face the music
– Salute
– Remain silent
• Military Units
Protocol 3
– Stand at attention (sit at attention if unable to
stand/
• Present Arms
• Color Guards dip all flags except US Flag
Words
Lyrics 1
• O say can you see by
the dawn’s early light
• What so proudly we
hailed at the twilight’s
last gleaming
Explanation
• Questions the
listener: Can you see
the flag?
• We saw it last night at
sunset
Words
Lyrics 2
• Whose broad stripes
and bright stars
• Through the perilous
fight
• O’er the ramparts we
watched were so
gallantly streaming
Explanation
• Describing the flag
• Referring to the battle
which might be won or
lost
• Describes the flag bravely
waving over the walls
(ramparts) of the fort in
defiance of enemy
Words
Lyrics 3
Explanation
• And the rockets red
glare, the bombs
bursting in air
• Rockets and cannon
shells fired by British
ships at Ft. McHenry
• Gave proof through
the night, that our flag
was still there
• Lit up the sky allowing
us to see if the flag
was still up and the
Americans still
fighting
Words
Lyrics 4
• O say does that star
spangled banner yet
wave
Explanation
• Questions listener
again: Is the flag still
there?
– Spangled = sprinkled,
referring to the stars
on the flag
– Banner = flag
• O’er the land of the
free
• and the home of the
brave
• Land of the Free =
America,
• home of the brave =
defenders of Ft.
McHenry
Music
Wikipedia – Star Spangled Banner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Spangled_Banner
Media
The Star-Spangled Banner (1942)
Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians sing The Star-Spangled Banner in 1942
The Star-Spangled Banner (1915)
More...
A 1915 recording of the Star-Spangled Banner as sung by Margaret Woodrow Wilson,
daughter of Woodrow Wilson