The Star Spangled

Banner

By Andy Weiler

Pols 131 09Mrs. Riordan

Why I picked this song:

1. It’s my favorite patriotic song.2. I love sports and it’s sung to open up all

sporting events.3. Explains desire and dedication for our

country’s freedom.

Thesis?

Freedom is what we were after, and as long as the flag was

standing….. We were still fighting.The Star Spangled Banner

symbolizes desire, courage and hope

Francis Scott Key

• Francis Scott Key wrote The Star Spangled Banner

• Key wasn’t well known before writing our National Anthem.

• He practiced law, wrote poetry, and was a low ranked officer in the War of 1812

• His inspiration came from witnessing the attack on Baltimore and the burning of Washington during the War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a heated battle between the British and the colonists. When the British had burned down the Capitol and the White House in Washington, their next goal was to

take the Baltimore port, which was guarded by Fort McHenry.

The Battle of Baltimore

• From september 13, 1814 to september 14,1814; an attack for 25 straight hours

• Little damage was done due to short range cannons for the Americans and bad acurracy cannons of the British

• There were 4 killed and 24 wounded• A woman was cut in half by a shell while

carrying supplies to the troops

Before the British arrived, Key and fellow Attorney Colonel John Skinner were going out to a British ship to negotiate a release of Dr.

William Beanes.

• When Key and Skinner got to the ship and successfully negotiated Beanes release, the British did not let them return until the attack at Fort McHenry was underway.

• Skinner and Key heard information on how they were going to attack. The Brits felt as if they would warn the Americans and ruin their plans

The attack on Fort McHenry occurred on September 12, 1814 and lasted for the next two days. During the night, the flag could be seen periodically during the battle. The only

time the flag could be seen was when the bombs and rockets lit up the sky.

When the firing stopped, the outcome of the war was uncertain. As the sun began to rise,

Key was looking, hoping the flag would still be there. As he anxiously waited, he began to

write a poem.

“Oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light? What so proudly we

hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars,

through the perilous fight.”

“Or the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming

And the rockets’ red glareThe bombs bursting in air

Gave proof through the nightThat our flag was still there”

“Oh say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave Or the land of the freeAnd the home of the brave”

Little Known Words in the Lyrics

• Twilight- light from the sky between full night and sunrise or between sunset and full night

• Gleaming- to shine with subdued light or moderate brightness

• Perilous- source of danger• Ramparts- protective barrier• Gallantly- showy in dress or bearing

The Flag

• Standard size for that time.• 42 feet long, 30 feet wide.• ¼ the size of a basketball court.• 8 red stripes, 7 white stripes.• 15 white stars.• It was made big so it would be possible for the Brits to

see it even from a distance.• Made by Mrs. Pickersgill, her daughter Caroline, her

nieces, and her mother• She was paid $405.90 for the flag; that $3,400 today

The Star Spangled Banner

• Written by Key; poem originally titled “The Defense of Fort McHenry”

• Sang to the tune of a British drinking song “Anacreon in Heaven”

• 1916- president Woodrow Wilson declares The Star Spangled Banner as the nations anthem and for it to be sang at naval academies and services

Pride in the National Anthem

• Today, the Star Spangled Banner can be heard just about anywhere; school bands and sports events

• People that sing it find honor and pride in it.• When we here the song, we think about what

this country means to us and, who sacrificed to help make it that way

• What I have learned about The National Anthem is how the words describe a witnessing of people fighting for our country. I almost always think of parts of it like “gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there” but I had no idea that this was written while seeing a battle happening, and I can see it in the lyrics now

Bibliography • "The Star-Spangled Banner." History of the US National Anthem. 2009. Jann Web

Design. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.gbjann.com/anthem/history.htm>.• "Fort McHenry." Wikipedia. 2009. GNU Free Documentation License. Web.27 Apr

2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry>.• "The Star Spangled Banner: Our National Anthem." Home of Heros. 2008.

HomeOfHeroes.com. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_anthem.html>.

• Baker.Vol.7.Detroit:UXL<2009.1467-1468.8 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. DUPO HIGH SCHOOL(IL). 7 Apr. 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com>

• The Merriam-Webster Dictionary. springfield: Merriam-Webster Incorporated, 2004. Print.

• Molotsky, Irvin. The Flag, the Poet & the Song. new york: Penguin Group, 2001. Print.

• Taylor, Lonn, Kathleen M. Kendrick, and Jeffery L. Brodie. The Star-Spangled Banner: the making of an American icon. new york: The National Museum of American History, 2008. Print.