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Imagine if "The Star-Spangled Banner" was never written. Your choice for why, War of 1812 never occurs, Francis Scott Key not at Baltimore during siege of Fort McHenry or never born altogether. Which song would be the most likely one to be named the national anthem for the United States?

"Hail, Columbia" served in this role for most of the 19th Century. "My Country, Tis of Thee" uses the same melody as Britain's "God Save the King (Queen)".

The reason I put this in the After 1900 forum was because "The Star-Spangled Banner" wasn't declared the national anthem until 1931.
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