How well do you know the U.S. National Anthem? Check Quiz Questions and Answers with Facts

Do you know that "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the official U.S. National Anthem? This year, 2025, marks 94 years since its formal adoption. This powerful song tells the story of American resilience during the War of 1812, specifically witnessing the large flag flying over Fort McHenry after a night of bombardment. American Lawyer and Poet Francis Scott Key wrote the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry," which later became the U.S. National Anthem. The "Star-Spangled Banner" is a direct reference to the National Flag of the United States. 

We've created a fun and educational quiz to test your knowledge of the US National Anthem. Can you answer all the questions? The United States National Anthem is a typical topic in quizzes and exams, especially those focused on civics, American history, or cultural studies.

Read About- Who Gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States and Why?

How well do you know the U.S. National Anthem? Check Quiz Questions and Answers with Facts

Let’s dive into the U.S. National Anthem quiz and see how many questions you can answer. 

Q1: What is the primary symbol represented in the U.S. National Anthem?

1. The bald eagle

2. The Statue of Liberty

3. The American flag

4. The White House

Answer: c) The American flag

Explanation: "The Star-Spangled Banner" was inspired by the sight of the large American flag still flying over Fort McHenry after a night of bombardment during the War of 1812. The lyrics directly describe this flag, making it the central symbol of the anthem.

Q2: What specific detail in the anthem's first stanza describes the American flag that inspired Francis Scott Key?

1. That it was torn and tattered

2. Its broad stripes and bright stars

3. That it was newly unfurled

4. Its intricate design

Answer: b) Its broad stripes and bright stars

Explanation: The anthem's first stanza directly asks if the "broad stripes and bright stars" were still valiantly streaming, referring to the large flag flying over Fort McHenry.

Q3: From what vantage point did American Lawyer and Poet Francis Scott Key witness the bombardment that inspired the anthem's lyrics?

1. From inside Fort McHenry

2. From a British warship

3. From a truce ship in Baltimore Harbor

4. From a nearby civilian residence

Answer: c) From a truce ship in Baltimore Harbor

Explanation: Key was on a British ship under truce in Baltimore Harbor, where he had gone to negotiate the release of prisoners, when he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

Q4: What was the primary objective of the British naval bombardment of Fort McHenry that led to the anthem's creation?

1. To destroy Baltimore's port facilities

2. To force American surrender of Washington D.C.

3. To control the Chesapeake Bay

4. To demoralize the American defenders and clear a path for ground troops to Baltimore

Answer: d) To demoralize the American defenders and clear a path for ground troops to Baltimore

Explanation: The British navy's intense shelling aimed to subdue the fort's defenses, allowing their forces to advance on the city of Baltimore and break American morale.

Q5: Fort McHenry, the historical site central to the anthem's inspiration, is strategically located guarding the entrance to which major U.S. body of water?

1. Potomac River

2. Delaware Bay

3. Chesapeake Bay

4. Hudson River

Answer: c) Chesapeake Bay

Explanation: Fort McHenry is positioned at the mouth of Baltimore's harbor, which directly connects to the vast Chesapeake Bay, making it a crucial defensive point.

Q6: The phrase "through the night" in the anthem signifies a period of intense activity and uncertainty during what specific event?

1. The crossing of the Delaware

2. The siege of Yorktown

3. The continuous bombardment of Fort McHenry

4. The burning of Washington D.C.

Answer: c) The continuous bombardment of Fort McHenry

Explanation: The phrase refers to the relentless all-night British naval assault on Fort McHenry, leaving the fate of the fort and the American flag unknown until morning.

Q7: Which U.S. President signed the act that officially designated "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem?

1. Woodrow Wilson

2. Calvin Coolidge

3. Herbert Hoover

4. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Answer: c) Herbert Hoover

Explanation: President Herbert Hoover signed the congressional act on March 3, 1931, formally making "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States.

Q8: "The Star-Spangled Banner" is set to the tune of an old British song. What was that song called?

1. God Save the King

2. Yankee Doodle

3. To Anacreon in Heaven

4. Rule, Britannia!

Answer: c) To Anacreon in Heaven

Explanation: The melody was originally a popular British drinking song, the official anthem of an amateur musicians' club in London, making its adoption as the U.S. anthem a unique historical note.

Q9: Before becoming the official anthem, in what form was Francis Scott Key's poem "Defence of Fort McHenry" primarily circulated to the public and gained initial popularity?

1. As a published book of poetry

2. As a widely distributed broadside or handbill

3. As a newspaper editorial

4. As part of a military training manual

Answer: b) As a widely distributed broadside or handbill

Explanation: Key's poem was quickly printed as a broadside (a single sheet of paper printed on one side) and distributed, rapidly gaining public recognition when sung to the familiar tune.

Q10: What was a notable characteristic of the actual flag that inspired Francis Scott Key at Fort McHenry, which became known as the "Star-Spangled Banner"?

1. It was a small, personal flag

2. It was a massive garrison flag

3. It was a simple regimental banner

4. It was made of silk and easily torn

Answer: b) It was a massive garrison flag

Explanation: The flag that inspired Key was an enormous garrison flag, specifically commissioned to be so large (originally 42 by 30 feet) that the British would have no doubt of its presence over the fort.

Must Read- U.S. Education Under Donald Trump: Major Changes and Key Initiatives in 2025

How well did you do on the quiz? Share it with friends and family to test their knowledge of the U.S. National Anthem!