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This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 27 September 2024. American lawyer and poet (1779–1843) Francis Scott Key Key c. 1825 4th United States Attorney for the District of Columbia In office 1833–1841 President Andrew Jackson Martin Van Buren Preceded by Thomas Swann Succeeded by Philip Richard Fendall II Personal details Born (1779-08-01 ...
file. help. " The Star-Spangled Banner " is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the " Defence of Fort M'Henry ", [ 2 ] a poem written by American lawyer Francis Scott Key on September 14, 1814, after he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
- Overview
- Freemasons
- Raising Questions
With an outrageous plot, "National Treasure" seems like a film that is mostly for entertainment with a sprinkling of historical fact.
Imagine this: Centuries ago an order of European knights amassed a huge treasure of priceless artifacts from around the world.
The loot was later brought to the United States by the Freemasons, a secret society. Determined to keep it out of the hands of the British during the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin and other Masons hid the treasure in a secret location but left clues to its whereabouts in famous American landmarks.
Now, the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of a carriage boy who learned the secret vows to find the treasure. The clues lead him to an invisible map hidden on the back of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Preposterous? Absolutely.
But the plot of National Treasure, the adventure yarn starring Nicolas Cage that opens in U.S. movie theaters today, is also irresistible fun.
For an indication of the public's fascination with secret societies and conspiracy theories, jump on to the Internet, where thousands of wild Web sites claim that shadowy alliances do everything from running international affairs to managing interplanetary treaties.
Perhaps the most famous secret society is the Freemasons, a medieval guild of stonemasons that formed in England in the early 18th century and developed into a powerful fraternity.
The Freemasons have enjoyed a reputation as influential politicians, scientists, and artists whose works and charities have enhanced the world. Some Christian leaders, however, have called it a secret society bent on spreading evil.
Of the 55 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, at least 9 are said to have been Freemasons. President George Washington was also among its members.
In the new movie the Freemasons are seen in a positive light.
"The Masons were founded on pretty solid principles, and a lot of those held for the Founding Fathers and probably influenced them a great deal toward democracy at the time," said Kouf, whose grandfather was a Freemason. "When Washington had trouble raising his army, he called upon his Masonic brothers, because he knew he could count on them."
Although the medieval knights also feature prominently in The Da Vinci Code, it was that novel's main plot twist—that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene—which stirred up real controversy. Could this be true?
"There's no evidence for it in any text," said Joseph Kelly, a professor of religious studies at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, who has given numerous public lectures disproving the "secrets" in Brown's novel.
Kelly says many people are disappointed when he tells them that the marriage never happened. Yet the academic says there are many things in the book that are historically accurate, and he believes the novel serves a valuable purpose.
"Brown tells people something they never knew—that the early history of Christianity was much more complicated than anybody thought," he said.
Kouf, the movie scribe, sees little danger in weaving together fiction and history.
"If we were laying it out as a true story, then I'd agree that we're taking too many liberties," he said. "But because it's set out in an adventure mold like Indiana Jones, I think we're OK. People know some of this stuff didn't happen."
National Museum of American History, 1989. When the new Museum of History and Technology (now NMAH) opened in 1964, the Star-Spangled Banner was featured in the central Flag Hall where it remained for over 30 years. Protective “Olio”. To protect the Star-Spangled Banner from exposure to light and debris, the Museum installed a moveable ...
Jul 1, 2024 · The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore, came only weeks after British forces attacked Washington, D.C., burning the United States Capitol, the Treasury and the White House (then known ...
Sep 23, 2019 · A Summary and Analysis of Francis Scott Key’s ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the United States national anthem, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. But the fate of national anthems is that their opening lines are often imprinted upon the minds of almost everyone ...
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Dec 19, 2016 · In this edition of "Presenting the Facts", we explore the 2004 blockbuster National Treasure. The story was written by Jim Kouf, Oren Aviv, and Charles Segars, and the screenplay was by Jim Kouf, Cormac Wibberley, and Marianne Wibberley. It was directed by Jon Turtletaub and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who is known for other action films based in historical details, including Pearl Harbor ...
