So due to all the controversy, though late as it maybe, Colin Kaepernick has decided to sit out the National Anthem of the United States. Now he says that he doesn't want to celebrate a country that persecutes Black People. So I decided to research it, especially after my sociology teacher brought it up, and I found something interesting. It's about this passage.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,

That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion

A home and a Country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

More specifically the part in bold, I wanted to know if the original author, Francis Scott Key, intended it to be a pro-slavery verse and if he was really a racist himself.

Couldn't really find the pre-WWII era, can someone help here?

I was thinking that Im going to be screwed and drafted, so I could join the Navy. Just mop decks on a ship in safety. Would this work?

EDIT: I should clarify I am an 18 year old US citizen

War is hell, and requires dangerous and life costing action to win. I remember a quote by a US Serviceman to the effect of "If we are going to try them, we'd better make sure we are on the winning side" (or something to that effect... I cannot find it right now), so I searched and could not find an answer:

Is there any record of any of the accused SS/Nazi party members on trial ever attacking the US/Allies that were trying them (either personally by name or as part of the greater war effort), accusing those Allies and the Allied war machine of war crimes itself? Also, did any of the Nazis point out any seeming hypocrisy with the Allied trials? Is seems that they would have had some knowledge at their disposal:

• The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing largely civilians
• Many Germans were aware of the bombing of Dresden on 13-15 Feb 1945, which killed likely 25,000-35,000 people
• The continuous bombing of German cities throughout the war

Thank you in advance.

Or have they ever practiced a form of martial arts specific to their people?

Washington was inaugurated on April 20th. Jefferson and those after were sworn in on March 4, the anniversary of the day that the US Constitution took effect. But the 20th amendment set that date to January 20th starting in 1937.

We based the limit on presidential terms on Washingtons precedent of two terms, so why not do the same with innaguartions, base it on Washington. Or why not leave the date at March 4th, which seemed like a fine day.

What was the motivation or reasoning for making the date a typically cold day, January 20th?

Thanks everyone! I've been scratching my head on this one and the sources ive been able to find just list dates, not really motivations.

-Matt

Now I know that the geographical layout of the war would have made this unlikely in any major capacity, but did it happen at all?

Do many/any historians treat seriously the claims that Jesus was in India? Between 12-30 odd or even after his 'resurrection'?

We see in every war movie and TV show like Game of Thrones that archers would have arrows that are lit on fire at the end. I get that it looks cool, but did people actually do that? If so, what was the purpose?

I understand the difficulty of influencing nations to accept annexation, but what stopped countries from forcing de facto control? Were they really against purging populations, or did they enjoy the glorification and spoils war kept bringing back? Wouldn't it be better, albeit harder, to extract wealth over time than in short bursts (as in war)?

Also I understand the vague time line, but I am looking for a more generalized answer. If you need one, I'm mainly thinking of the petty Spanish wars with France I had seen recently on here.

like if you were a celtic farmer were you reconed to own the land you farmed or was it just all communally owned by whatever tribe you belonged to?

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Or would the painting of the statue be more of a luxury item? Over time and in different regions of the Roman Empire, would there have been different preferences for whether marble was painted or left bare?

In HBO's The Pacific, there's a scene in which the Marines learn one of their squad mates was drafted, as opposed to voluntarily enlisting. The rest of the squad then playfully chastise the man.

Was there any basis for this in real life?

EDIT: fixed a grammar mistake

Hey AskHistorians! Just started a big project on the black plague. And i've stumbled over this question, that wants me to analyse and explain the effect that the black plague had, on politics, the economy and social gatherings. I get that the social gatherings were limited and people probably, wasn't too keen on meeting each other, in fear of being infected, and i'm sure that the economy took a fall, because of the majority of people being sick and not being able to work, combined with the widespread panic that ensured. And i'm not asking you to do my project for me, but instead help me find reliable sources that i could analyse, and a helpfull answer to the question would be appreciated!