The History and Meaning of

Our National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner
By Francis Scott Key
History
War of 1812
Watched the bombing of Fort McHenry through
the night
At dawn saw flag
Inspired to write poetry
Published as The Defense of Fort McHenry
Later set to music as The Star Spangled Banner
O say can you
see by the
dawns early
light,
What so
proudly we
hailed at the
twilights last
gleaming;
Whose broad
stripes and
bright stars,
through the
perilous fight,
Oer 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
Oer the land
of the free
and the home
of the brave?

Vocabulary Words

Dawns
Hailed
Twilights
Gleaming
Perilous
Ramparts
Gallantly
Streaming
Rockets
Proof

Dawns
To begin to be day
To grow light





Back
Hailed
To welcome, greet
To name by way of
tribute; salute
To call out to or greet
Cheered


Back
Twilights
A subdued light just
after sunset
The period from
sunset to dark
Growing in darkness


Back
Gleaming
A flash or beam of
light
A reflective brightness
A brief trace
To shine or reflect
Shining

Back

Perilous
Exposure to harm or
injury
Dangerous
Involving risk



Back

Ramparts
An embankment of
earth surrounding a
fort
For defense against
attack
Back

Gallantly
Stately
Brave and noble
To escort
Bravely



Back

Streaming
A steady movement or
flow
To move swiftly
To extend or to stretch
out
Constantly moving

Back


Rocket
A cylindrical devices
that propel through the
air
Weapon
Fireworks
Bomb

Back

Proof
A test or trial of truth
The process of proving
Evidence



Back
End

Francis Scott
Keys poem
The Defense
of Fort
McHenry
was not
officially
adopted as
our national
anthem until
March 3,
1931.