The Star-Spangled Bummer, an article in the wonderful NY Times Disunion series on the Civil War, discusses attempts in 1861 to come up with a national anthem, and, in particular, to generate new candidates for one other than "Yankee Doodle," or "Hail, Columbia" or the "Star-Spangled Banner", which were all popular at the time. They were not successful.

The article concludes by saying, "In 1931, as the Great Depression again tested the country's resolve, the 'Star-Spangled Banner' was signed into law as America's official national anthem."

~ Becky in Tucson