USA HISTORY

THE VIRGINIA DYNASTY 1801 1825

HISTORY OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
With its first title being “The Defense of Fort McHenry", the poem for the Star-Spangled Banner originally had how many verses?
A
four
B
one
C
three
D
seven
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Lyrics. “The Star-Spangled Banner” has four verses, although the second, third, and fourth verses are not commonly performed.

Detailed explanation-2: -Before it was named “The Star-Spangled Banner, ” it was called “The Defense of Fort McHenry.” Key eventually changed the name to better represent the flag and the United States. President Herbert Hoover signed the bill that made the song the national anthem in 1931.

Detailed explanation-3: -So when Key references the “foul footstep’s” of the “hireling and slave” who “no refuge could save” from “the gloom of the grave” in the third verse, he’s referring to the killing of Colonial Marines.

Detailed explanation-4: -The U.S. national anthem and the flag that inspired it are legacies of the War of 1812. British forces gathered to attack Baltimore in September 1814. After a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry, they failed to penetrate Baltimore’s defenses and withdrew.

Detailed explanation-5: -The basics Like so many famous songs of yore, “The Star-Spangled Banner” started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812. The stanzas recount the Battle of Baltimore, a days-long siege between British and American forces.

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