1. The Star Spangled Banner
HA!: The Star Spangled Banner
Below are the lyrics to two songs that have served as our national anthem. Draw a quick sketch next to each line to help you visualize what the song is trying to say.
The Star Spangled Banner
My Country ‘Tis of Thee
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 thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride
From every mountainside let freedom ring!
My native country thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills (a very small creek)
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

2. What seems to the focus of The Star Spangled Banner?
Look over the pictures your drew for The Star Spangled Banner. What images stand out? What feelings or thoughts do you think the song was written to bring out in people?
Based on what you’ve learned about the War of 1812 why do you think it was such a big deal to Francis Scott Key to see “that the flag was still there” after the attack on Fort McHenry?
What seems to the focus of My Country ‘Tis of Thee?
Look over the pictures your drew for My County ‘Tis of Thee. What images stand out? What feelings or thoughts do you think the song was written to bring out in people?
A national anthem is supposed to “evoke and eulogize the history, traditions and struggles of its people.” Given that, which of these two songs do you think should be our official national anthem? Explain your answer. .