About This Quiz
Wars, foreign relations, internal struggles, leaders, legislation; American history can teach us a lot about ourselves and where we come from. However, that history can also be quite difficult to fully grasp sometimes. Are you an expert on American history? Here's a quiz where you can find out just how much you know!
Even before the founding of the United States as an independent country, America's history was complicated, from colonial times to the American Revolution, and even when it comes to more recent history, that hasn't changed. The history of America, of course, has been marred by some grim segments, particularly related to Indian removal and slavery, but it's also been inspirational, displaying the triumphs of a country still finding itself and its place in the world.ÂÂ
Are you ready to test your knowledge on American history with this difficult quiz? Can you recall some of the lesser-known facts relating to the most significant events that shaped the United States? Do you know which presidencies were defined by important legislation or acts?ÂÂ
This quiz will challenge you on all aspects of American society from culture to economics to politics. If you are up for the challenge, get started and put your American history knowledge on display for everyone to see!
Sailing up the St. Lawrence River, Jacques Cartier discovered what is now Canada. The first to explore the region, he claimed it for France, his home country.
Walter Raleigh never actually went to North America himself. Instead, he sent several expeditions to the area in his place, though a permanent colony was never established.
Jamestown marked the first time an English settlement lasted in the Americas. The settlement was started by the Virginia Company in 1607.
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The Proclamation of 1763 was made after the French and Indian War, which English colonists saw as an opportunity to expand their land. With the proclamation, however, their hope was halted, increasing tension between the colonists and Britain.
The Stamp Act was an attempt by Britain to have the colonists pay for the French and Indian War that had recently ended. Since the colonists were given no say in the matter, they began to rise in opposition to the British Parliament.
After the Revolution ended, Benedict Arnold was heavily criticized for his disloyalty and betrayal. Even today, Arnold is seen as the ultimate traitor to the American cause.
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Delaware was admitted to the Union on December 7, 1787. It was followed five days later by Pennsylvania. The last of the original 13 colonies wasn't admitted to the Union until 1790.
George Washington served only two terms as president of the United States. He stepped down even though he was still heavily favored in the next election.
Engulfed in a major European conflict, France was desperate for money when they agreed to the Louisiana Purchase. The deal heavily favored the United States and was a defining moment in Thomas Jefferson's presidency.
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American slave labor slowly became less important, particularly in the North where free Americans needed jobs. However, the cotton boom in the South made the region more reliant on an additional labor source.
Andrew Jackson was known as the president of the "common man." However, he very much asserted authoritarian measures at times, increasing the power of the presidency during his time in office through tools like the veto.
President James Madison guided the United States through the War of 1812. Small in stature, Madison wasn't much of a military man, serving briefly in the pre-Revolutionary military before turning to writing and politics.
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Known as the "Trail of Tears," the removal of Indians from the east resulted in thousands of deaths. The act tarnished the legacy of President Andrew Jackson who signed it into law.
When James Bowies reached the Alamo, he decided the plan to evacuate wouldn't work because a large portion of the supplies would be left behind. Instead, he decided to defend the fort, leading to one of the most iconic battles in American history.
In March 1847, during the height of the Mexican-American War, the United States landed over 10,000 troops on the coast of Mexico. It marked the first large-scale amphibious invasion in U.S. history.
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The gold rush resulted in one of the largest migrations in American history. Before the gold rush ended, over 300,000 people had moved to California, hoping to strike it big.
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" depicted the cruelty of slavery in the American South. The book is credited with fueling the abolitionist movement in the North.
The Gadsden Purchase was a deal made between the United States and Mexico in 1854. It included land that makes up both Arizona and New Mexico.
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Before the secession of the South, Jefferson Davis served as a U.S. Senator representing Mississippi. Davis originally opposed secession, but he reluctantly accepted the responsibility of leading the Confederacy.
Going into the Civil War, the Union knew it had superior Naval power over the Confederacy. This supremacy allowed the Union to blockade the South from receiving foreign support.
Gettysburg might have been the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, but Antietam marked the bloodiest day of the war. Nearly 23,000 soldiers lost their lives in the battle, with both sides suffering heavy losses.
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After the Civil War, Southern whites immediately tried to limit the rights of newly freed blacks. Legislation was passed to protect the rights of blacks, but after Reconstruction ended, the South found ways to get around the legislation.
Abraham Lincoln favored Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War because he was willing to fight, mainly by pushing forward after a victory. Grant's aggression allowed him to surround Confederate General Robert E. Lee, forcing Lee to surrender at Appomattox Court House.
The most famous Sioux victory over the U.S. Army came at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Before the battle, Sitting Bull had a vision that his people would achieve a major victory just as they did.
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The first World Series pitted the Boston Americans against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Led by Cy Young and Jimmy Collins, the Americans won the series five games to three.
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. As a politician, he was a leader of the Progressive Era, which dominated the United States in the early 20th century.
"Birth of a Nation" has been heavily criticized for its portrayal of black Americans. In the film, they were depicted as savages and rapists by white actors dressed in black face paint.
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The Great Depression followed an era known as the Roaring Twenties. The era was defined by substantial economic growth as well as a cultural uniqueness featuring new technology, music, and art.
In 1937, Amelia Earhart set out in a plane in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in a suspected crash, and she was never heard from again.
All U.S. air carriers, which dominated WWII, were away from Pearl Harbor during the attack, though three of them were stationed at the harbor. Because these ships weren't destroyed, the United States' Pacific Fleet was able to recover much faster than expected.
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Douglas MacArthur controlled U.S. forces in the Pacific leading up to WWII. MacArthur was in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked the country, forcing him to retreat to Australia before going on the attack.
The Korean War marked the first military engagement of the Cold War. South Korea was supported by the United Nations led by the United States, while North Korea found support in China and Russia.
The United States fell behind Russia early in the space race, as the Soviets had multiple successes such as putting the first man into orbit. However, the United States built some momentum in the late '60s, eventually putting a man on the moon in 1969.
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The 1960s were a time of social turmoil in the United States as various groups sought to bring down the Establishment. The unrest was particularly relevant in the counterculture movement, which was a reaction to the dominant culture that governed the United States.
By the 1970s, the Vietnam War was largely opposed in the U.S. The war had drawn on for years as U.S. involvement continually increased, and the opposition at home became harder to suppress.