The Star-Spangled Banner

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/the-star-spangled-banner

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner?Francis Scott Key, lawyer and poet
2. What is the date of inspiration?September 14, 1814, during the Battle of Baltimore
3. What is the original melody composer?John Stafford Smith
4. What is the story behind The Star-Spangled Banner?It was written by Francis Scott Key after he saw the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry during a battle in 1814. He wrote a poem that later became the national anthem.
5. Why did Francis Scott Key write the poem?He was on a British ship watching the bombardment of Fort McHenry. Seeing the flag still up made him feel proud and he wrote the poem.

Bombardment: The sustained attack of large-caliber guns or bombs on a target.
Anacreontic Society: A London social club known for its musical performances and convivial atmosphere.
Seminote: The smallest interval in Western music, representing half a step on a piano.
Sovereignty: Supreme power or authority; the authority of a state to govern itself.