Star Spangled Banner Quiz (answers posted Monday July 7th)

1. The words to our National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner were written 200 years by Francis Scott Keyes, during a naval bombardment of what fort defending what city in what state?
a. Boston, Fort Adams, Massachusetts
b. Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland
c. Fort Ticonderoga, no city, New York


2. What body of water was Keyes sailing on as he watched the battle?
a. Boston Harbor
b. New York City Harbor
c. Chesapeake Bay

3. The music of our national anthem was a well-known drinking song, written in England for what was called then a 'gentleman's club', the Anacreontic Society,   by teen ager John Stafford Smith.  It was popular roughly ten years before the American Revolution.  The Anacreontic Society was a:
a. music society
b. gay men's organization for celebrating and promoting clothing fashions,    (especially hats)
c. chowder & marching club

4. From 1774 into the 19th century, the U.S. did not have an official national anthem although the Star Spangled Banner sometimes served as the unofficial anthem. Before becoming the national anthem, it was the official music for a branch of the military. Which one was it?
a. Army
b. Navy
c. Marines
d. Air Force

5. The Star Spangled Banner was written during the War of 1812. In what year did it become the OFFICIAL national anthem?
a. 1848
b. 1915
c. 1931

6. The War of 1812 started in 1812; what year did it end?
a. 1815
b. 1814
c. 1812

7. A famous cartoonist drew attention to the lack of a national anthem, leading to the Star Spangled Banner being selected. Which cartoonist was it?
a. Al Capp
b. Robert Ripley
c. Rube Goldberg

8. The tradition of playing the national anthem before sporting events started with what sport, during what war?
a. polo, Civil War
b. bicycle races, Spanish- American war
c. horse racing, WW I
d. baseball, WW II

9. There was no official, standard version of the music. Which famous composer helped write the definitive form of the tune?
a. John Phillip Sousa
b. John Williams
c. Stephen Foster

10. United States Code 36 U.S.C. § 301 (yup - it's the LAW!) requires anyone not in military uniform to stand and hold their right hand over their heart when the national anthem is played. This law was written to show a standardized form of respect for the anthem and the nation, but also because another, more embarrassing gesture was associated with the official performances of the anthem. Which one was it that was replaced?
a. raised fist, showing anti-government protests
b. praying hands, considered too religious
c. right arm pointing to the flag, too similar to the Hitler salute
d. holding their hand up, arm bent at the elbow, as in swearing the oath to tell the truth in court, took up too much room in crowded bleachers