The document discusses the history and origins of the Star Spangled Banner. It explains that Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became the national anthem after witnessing the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 during the War of 1812. Key saw the large American flag still flying over Fort McHenry at dawn after a night of bombardment by the British navy, which inspired him to write about the American victory. The document provides background on Key, details of the battle, descriptions of the large flag and the lyrics of the anthem, and how it later became the official national anthem in the early 20th century.

1. The Star
Spangled
Banner

2. By Andy Weiler
Pols 131 09
Mrs. Riordan

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. • 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. “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.”

13. “Or the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets’ red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there”

14. “Oh say does that
Star Spangled Banner yet wave
Or the land of the free
And the home of the brave”

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. • 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

20. Bibliography
• quot;The Star-Spangled Banner.quot; History of the US National Anthem. 2009. Jann Web
Design. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.gbjann.com/anthem/history.htm>.
• quot;Fort McHenry.quot; Wikipedia. 2009. GNU Free Documentation License. Web.27 Apr
2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry>.
• quot;The Star Spangled Banner: Our National Anthem.quot; 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.