“The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key was written on September 16, 1814 after the bombardment of Fort McHenry. This occurred during the War of 1812, when Britain attacked the United States because British military and navy could now focus on re-conquering America. During the war on September 1814, British troops had invaded Washington D.C. and set the Capitol on fire. One of Key’s friends was taken prisoner so Key, alongside with John S. Skinner, was commissioned to help release his friend from the British navy. Although the request for the freedom of his friend was granted, the British were preparing to attack Baltimore, so they did not let Key and Skinner go. After the invasion of Baltimore, the British bombarded Fort McHenry on …show more content…
In the poem, Key states “And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.’” This indicates that the Americans praise God’s power in giving them the strength and courage to fight this battle and come out victorious in the end. God’s influence was clearly more powerful than the power of the government over the people because God gave the people the bravery and character to succeed in this battle. As a result, the people would be influenced to adopt Key’s motto as one significant American motto because it would indicate that Americans have faith in both their own power and faith in the greater power of God. Thus, the people would express their gratitude to God for empowering them as a nation to be able to defeat the British and accumulate their freedom once again. For that reason, Key’s motto would become powerful throughout the nation for years to …show more content…
According to Key, “our flag was still there” surviving through the bombing over the ramparts. As a result, the American flag would bring about a fresh wave of patriotism by becoming the actual symbol of the nation and eliciting universal feelings of patriotism, courage, and resilience within the American people. By giving the flag the main role in this victorious war, Key’s song would establish a new prominence for the flag as an expression of national identity, unity, and pride. Thus, the poem would induce feelings of pride among the American people because the survival of the flag indicated that they were able to secure their freedom through their victory at Fort McHenry. For a moment, America’s future had seemed uncertain because it was hard to see if the American flag was still there, but when it was still there, the people felt relieved because it meant that America was still the land of the free. Therefore, the emblem that is the American flag became a symbol that the people could connect with because it became a representation of their values and ideals as to what it means to be
They were attacking some of America’s forts. Instead of fighting back, the American's hung the American flag out to symbolize their freedom. All night, the British bombs, guns, and cannons exploded in the night, giving off enough light to illuminate the night sky and see that the flag was still proudly standing. The British had failed to tear down the fort’s wall, exemplifying that Great Britain could not suppress the idea of freedom for the United States. After that, a patriot by the name of Francis Scott Key, who was a lawyer and public servant wrote The Star-Spangled Banner. In it, he included “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” He wrote those words in 1814, but it still took almost a century to input it into the making of the Star-Spangled Banner. The Star-Spangled Banner has a special place in American's hearts because it shows how brave the United States was and still is. It shows that when we are united, nothing can break us
There are few speeches in the American history that compel us towards great acts of patriotism. Patrick Henry's speech in the Virginia Provincial Convention of 1775 is a prime example of one of these great speeches. During the debates on whether or not to compromise with Great Britain, Patrick Henry proposed the idea to his fellow members of the First Continental Congress to declare war on Great Britain. A reason why the speech was so powerful was the rhetorical strategies of the diction of slavery, the appeal to God, and the appeal to logic, that he deftly employed. After Patrick Henry opens his speech by respectfully acknowledging the opposition for their own opinions, intellect, and patriotism, he gains the attention of the Congress
In The Crisis, No.1 Thomas Paine utilizes many different types of rhetorical devices to persuade the readers that America is the strongest it has ever been and Great Britain is at a weak point. Paine uses metaphoric language to compare the greatness of America and Americans different types of connotation, and allusions to rally the American troops. Using different types of connotation Thomas Paine demonstrates the negative opinions he and most Americans had formed towards their overlords in England. Finally, he convinces his audience that the Colonists will win the war solely because God Almighty was on their side.
“In God We Trust” is the phrase upon which we base our country. It can be seen on our money, in our justice system, and even in our Pledge of Allegiance. By recognizing God as the foundation of truth and justice which most people were inclined to accept, both Paine and Henry formed successful arguments based partly upon transfer. Because God is considered the truth, the right way, and the fair judge of the world, it only made sense to use His influence to give credibility and the positive connections associated with God to the American Revolution. As intended, both audiences freely a...
Patrick Henry’s statements resonates with the colonists because it adequately captures their grievances and feelings against the British, who have made their lives exceedingly difficult. Unlike many Demagogues who use their words to gain personal power or control, Patrick Henry uses his words to rally the colonists towards a good common cause that ultimately leads to the creation of the strongest nation in the world. The power, conviction and language of Henry’s speech lead to a revolution that would go n to change the course of
It was a way for the United States to recruit soldiers to send to Europe, as the United States was short on soldiers and even passed conscription acts to draft people into the army. In addition, Americans still held anti-war sentiments, as Wilson was reelected campaigning on not going to war. This patriotic song helped ease American fears and provided confidence that US troops would be able to end the war swiftly. On a global scale, the song is tied to the American entry into World War I, an event that solidified the Allied victory, shaping the history of the world leading to World War II. On the national level, the song gave the people hope because it reflected the belief that the United States’ troops would be able to dominate Europe and come home safely. By the end, however, the death and destruction left by the war became apparent. The trust in Wilson’s grandiose ideals and the patriotism faded as the people began seeing US involvement in the war was a mistake, taking up Harding’s offer to return to “normalcy” (Brinkley, 530). As a result, this song is also firmly situated in a change of eras as the United States moved past World War I and into the Roaring
In order to increase patriotism, Henry calls attention to the idea that “[America is] not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature [has placed] in our power.” After mentioning Britain’s view of colonial America, Henry provides the audience with the hope that the American people can defeat the British if they take action. Henry encourages the audience to be confident by stating that even God, the almighty one, is on their side. Henry establishes his credibility and trustworthiness by aligning God’s views with his own. To further encourage the delegates, he says “the battle… is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” By omitting conjunctions, Henry presents the advantages the Americans possess over the British. While the British are just “strong”, the Americans are “vigilant”, “active”, and “brave”, traits which are more beneficial. Henry believes that the “three millions of people” will join together to defeat the British and fight for liberty. The omission of the conjunctions allows the delegates to understand how Henry trusts the “vigilant”, “active”, and “brave” will all
There have been the fights for our freedom and fights against each other. Through all of the battles, the American flag stood strong and proud. There have been many sacrificed deaths for our freedom. The flag stands for every person that ever gave up their life for the good of our country. The people that were at the front line standing proud for our nation are the real heros. That is what the flag really stands for. The everyday citizens that continue to fight while we continue our normal lives. Many people may not think of the American flag as much but it stands for so much more than just what our eyes can
...c song. Many songs were considered for the national anthem including “Yankee Doodle,” “America the Beautiful,” “My Country! Tis of Thee’” and “Hail Columbia.” “The Star Spangled Banner” remains timeless as it does not directly mention the battle that it portrays. It also never directly mentions the United States. The entire poem is a metaphor of America and what America is all about. This year the “Star-Spangled Banner” will turn 200 and my hope is more Americans will take the time to learn more about our national anthem.
Thomas Paine’s writings reminded the colonists of ideas, like that it was “better [to] have too much force than too little, when so great an object [was] at stake” (p.118). In regards to Britain’s intentions, Paine wrote, “the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf; and we ought to guard equally against both” (p. 119). Because he was in favor of the American Revolution, Thomas Paine’s writings painted Britain as an insidious force working against them, which convinced many colonists of the need for a revolution against Britain and reminded the soldiers to keep fighting their hardest. Emotional statements about the damage Britain was inflicting were used alongside loaded words such as “conquest” (p. 119), “tyranny” (p. 117), and “violence” (p. 119) to get Thomas Paine’s ideas on the actions of the British Parliament across in a powerful manner. The document’s influence on troops and colonists may have provided the extra bit of motivation that it took to win the American Revolution.
What is the American flag and what does it represent? For many Americans the flag represents freedom, pride, and justice. Our flag stands for freedom because of the many lives that had to be lost throughout history for us to be the nation we are today. The American flag stands for pride because of the many American soldiers men and women who lost their lives for us. Lastly, our flag stands for justice because in the United States no matter what crime we do we have the right to a fair trial.
Francis Scott Key wanted readers to virtually see and feel what and how he did during this time and so his use of several literary devices in the writing of the (SSB) was a genius move, which in turn helped his poem turn into the iconic National anthem that it is today, that some Americans are still trying to learn to sing today, because of the feeling one gets when hearing it being sung
“The Star Spangled Banner” emphasizes America’s perseverance and its unwillingness to surrender to adversity. The prime example of this “American attitude” traces back to the dawn of America. Harsh European laws during the Colonial Period allot little to no rights to its own subjects in America. American colonists’ penurious lives are in constant peril of taxation through means such as the mercantilist system and selfish laws like the Navigation Acts. However, American colonists refuse to remain under control of such an oppressive government. In the eyes of the Europeans, they are rapacious rebels who are oblivious of the supremacy of their mother country. Yet, in the eyes of the colonists, they are merely humans asking, and eventually fighting, for simple rights that–according to their tenets–belong to everyone. Although their adversary is the seemingly invincible England, the colonists are able to endure and emerge as the victor. “The Star Spangled Banner” clearly demonstrates the perseverance and audacity in this cl...
It is widely believed that if Patrick Henry had not given the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” which influenced the start of the Revolutionary War, then America might still be under the rule of the British Monarchy. The Revolutionary War was the war when America regained their freedom from the British Monarchy in 1783. Henry is considered by many to be the best orator of his time. Patrick Henry was an attorney and politician; his most important characteristic was being one of America’s most renowned patriots. The effects of his speech were enriching and brought new hope to the American people. People present in the Church could only truly tell the atmosphere that remained at St. John’s Church after Henry concluded his speech. William Wirt (Biographer of Patrick Henry) tells how it felt in the Church, “He took his seat. No murmur of applause was heard. The effect was too deep. After the trance of a moment, several members started from their seats. The cry, ‘to arms!’ seemed to quiver on every lip and gleam from every eye.” The audience can easily connect with Henry’s speech due to the fact they believed in liberty and would protect it at any cost. The speech was so radical because of the pathos that was used. Henry’s use of allusion and antithesis helps develop pathos to convince the House of Burgesses that beginning the Revolutionary War with Great Britain is necessary, to prevent them from forcing America into submission and slavery, in the speech “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.”
From this loss, when the Continental Army was stuck to eating a ‘Thanksgiving’ of a meager portion of rice and broth, Thomas Paine wrote the American Crisis to revitalize morale in Americans, which said that true glory comes from perseverance. (Doc 7) After this, the ideas changed yet again to become a passion for glory. The flame of independence grew bright from the war, which led to a revolutionary form of government being created: a republic for the people instead of a monarchy. The change of ideas for individual freedom compared to anti-british feelings is the sole reason why the American Experiment worked to eventually become the superpower of the