E41 Improve Your English with the History of the U.S. National Anthem - the Star-Spangled Banner

Jul 1, 2024

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🎧Welcome back to the Learn English Podcast! As we kick off July, we're celebrating Independence Day, one of the biggest holidays in the United States. This week, we're celebrating by exploring the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." We'll uncover the story of the song's rise to fame, and the controversy surrounding its lyrics.

🇺🇸 Did you know the Star-Spangled Banner wasn't even the official anthem for most of US history? Francis Scott Key, the man behind the song, witnessed a battle during the War of 1812 that inspired a poem that eventually become the anthem. Yet, "The Star-Spangled Banner" didn't become the official national anthem until over a century later.

📚But why has this anthem stirred controversy? We'll discuss what makes the song so difficult to sing and discuss the complex legacy of its author. Francis Scott Key's life and the lesser-known verses of his poem are controversial. We'll examine why some call for a new national anthem and explore potential alternatives like "America the Beautiful."

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📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Commemorates - Honors the memory of a significant event or person.

2) Founding - The establishment or creation of something, such as a country or organization.

3) The Star Spangled Banner - The national anthem of the United States.

4) Composed - Created music or poetry.

5) Poetic verses - Lines of poetry.

6) Twilight - The time of day just after sunset.

7) Perilous - Dangerous or risky.

8) Notorious - Famous for something bad.

9) Abolitionists - People who supported the end of slavery.