The Star Spangled BannerCitizenship Lesson: 2nd Grade

History of the Flag

The Flag..

Raised over Fort McHenry in 1814.

It symbolizes an American victory over the British in the 1812 War-

The Battle of Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key..

Was on a warship during the Battle of Baltimore.

He could see a flag standing from the glare of the bombs and

rockets all night.

From poem to song..

He was inspired to write a poem about it’s perseverance.

After writing, he realized it fit perfectly with music from a song.

The original song has 4 verses, but today only one is sang.

O! Say can you see

By the dawn’s early light

What so proudly we hailed

At the twilight’s last gleaming

Whose broad strips and bright stars

Through the perilous fight

O’er 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

O! say does that star-spangled

Banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free

And the home of the brave

Starting a tradition..

In 1916, the president Woodrow Wilson ordered that the

"Banner" should be played by the military and navy.

In 1939, Congress named the song the national anthem.

“Baseball was, is, and always will be - to me - the best game in the

world.” Babe Ruth.

Along with becoming the national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner

began being played at sporting events.

The first event it debuted was the 1918

World Series.

Today, the Star Spangled Banner is still used for sporting and patriotic events.

Although most people have heard

it, few know the extensive history

behind it.