It Happened One Night Trivia Quiz

Answer: War of 1812

The British had already burned Washington, D.C. Since Baltimore was such a vital port city, and was believed to be the base of American privateers, it was chosen to be their next target objective. An additional stanza was added to the song during the Civil War.

Answer: Francis Scott Key

Key was a lawyer from Maryland, whose father had also pursued a legal career after serving in the Continental Army. His later claim to fame was serving as the lawyer for Sam Houston after he was accused of assaulting another Congressman. He also served as a U.S. District Attorney.

His distant cousin, F. Scott Fitzgerald, shares his name. An amateur author, Key also wrote "When The Warrior Returns", about soldiers fighting in the First Barbary War.

Answer: Fort McHenry

Ft. McHenry was built after the American Revolution in order to protect the important port of Baltimore. In order to take the city in 1814, the British Sir Alexander Cochrane and Major General Robert Ross planned to attack by land and sea. The army landed at North Point, and began moving toward Baltimore, while the navy moved up the Patapsco River.

A great defensive location, protection by sunken ships, and American canons made the fort impossible to take.

Answer: He was there to arrange the release of prisoners.

Francis Scott Key, along with John Stuart Skinner, had been approved by President Madison to ask for an exchange of prisoners. Dr. William Beanes, a civilian prisoner of war, had been accused of aiding in the arrest of British soldiers. Armed with letters from wounded British prisoners that praised Beanes for his kind treatment, under a flag of truce on board the HMS Minden, Key and Skinner were able to negotiate the doctor's release; however, because they had overheard the British war plans, Key and Skinner were kept on board the British ship until the planned attack was over.

Answer: Poem

The original poem was written on the back of a letter that was in the author's pocket. A printer in Baltimore made the first known broadside printing of the poem on September 17, 1814, after being given the poem by the author's brother-in-law. Although the poem was originally called "Defence of Fort McHenry", it was published with the words and music together shortly after by Thomas Carr and called "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Answer: It was a well-known British song.

The original melody was from "The Anacreontic Song" or "To Anacreon in Heaven", which was a melody written by John Stafford Smith, and published in "The Vocal Magazine" in 1778. Anacreon was a Greek poet from the 6th century b.c., whose poems about women, wine, and entertainment, were popular in Athens and other city-states.

The Anacreontic Society in London was a gentleman's club. Some sources say the members were amateur musicians, while others say the club was comprised of professionals. Neverthess, the song was popular in London, and it might have been a drinking song.

Answer: Navy

General Order #374, signed by Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Tracy, made the Star-Spangled Banner the official tune when raising the flag.

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

Because there were so many versions of the song, the President asked the United States Bureau of Education to choose an official version.

Answer: John Philip Sousa

Sousa, along with Walter Damrosch, William Earhart, Arnold J Gantvoort, and Oscar George Sonneck, voted on an official version which premiered at Carnegie Hall on December 5, 1917. A handwritten version of their final work has been found, that shows all five men voted measure by measure as they completed the song.

Answer: Herbert Hoover

Before 1931, many different songs including "Hail Columbia" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee" were used. Some say that Hoover's motivation came from Robert Ripley, when he published a cartoon on November 3, 1929, that said: "Believe It or Not, America has no national anthem."