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About This Quiz
It's part of the bridge between North and South America, a country that's seen more than its share of strife and chaos in the past two centuries. It is Mexico, a nation packed with diverse ethnic groups, political factions and sometimes, grim violence of the worst kind. But like its northern neighbor, Mexico has also seen its share of triumphs in the name of liberty. In this sun-baked quiz, what do you really know about the history of Mexico?
Long before the Mexican Constitution came along, there were multiple empires on the lands that would eventually become Mexico. These empires sprawled throughout Mesoamerica, built on the toil of millions of people ... and may have been the biggest empires of their day. Do you remember any of the details of these great civilizations?
The modern-day version of Mexico is very young, with its roots in the early 20th century, and it's the result of a back-and-forth tug of war between colonial powers, natives, and liberal and conservative groups. Indeed, the country is a patchwork of political motives and economic interests. What do you recall about the circumstances that created Mexico's current form?
From the Mexican War of Independence to the Mexican Revolution, to the horrors of the Drug War, Mexico has a fascinating past -- and a conflicted present. Take this Mexican history quiz now!
Before he became an 19th-century Mexican president, what career did Antonio de Santa Ana pursue?
medicine
military
puppetry
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Santa Ana is one of Mexico's most famous historical figures. He was a career military man who wound up as president, and in spite of many setbacks, managed to stay there for a long time.
The Mayans were an ancient people who lived in the region. They are renowned for which cultural development?
advanced physics
writing system
human sacrifice
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Many historians believe the Mayans were an extremely advanced culture. The Mayans developed a complex writing system and shared information over a broad geographical area.
In the 1500s, which nation conquered much of the area of Mexico?
Russia
Spain
U.S.
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In the 16th century, European nations were busy in colonizing many far-flung areas of the world. Spain conquered much of Mesoamerica, including the area that would become Mexico.
Spanish conquerors destroyed the ancient Aztec Empire capital. Then, they began rebuilding what became known was Mexico City, now one of the world's biggest metropolitan areas.
Antonio de Santa Ana was president of Mexico during which conflict?
World War II
Mexican-American War
Pastry War
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Santa Ana was the leader of Mexico during the Mexican-American War of the 1840s. In a time of fractious politics, the president was unable to put together a force cohesive enough to beat back the American invasion.
The Mexican War of Independence gave Mexico its freedom from which nation?
Cuba
Spain
U.S.
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Starting in 1810, Mexican rebels began their fight for independence from Spain. The struggle was a long one, but the fighters finally overthrew Spain's dominance.
In 1854, liberals gained momentum in Mexico. They toppled President Santa Ana and began creating a Mexican constitution, which would be ratified in 1857.
The Olmecs were the first ancient civilization in the region. What did they pioneer?
a road system
agriculture
complex city structures
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The Olmecs were concentrated in the southern part of what's now Mexico. They learned agriculture and used farming to grow beans, corn, chile peppers and other crops that are still popular in the area.
In 2006, the Mexican government began using its military for which purpose?
to murder political rivals
to stop violence related to drug trafficking
to halt whale hunting
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Mexico's drug cartels wax and wane in power, sometimes using violence to get the upper hand on their rivals. In 2006, the violence ecalated to an alarming degree, and the Mexican Army stepped in to slow the bloodshed.
The Mexican Constitution of 1857 did NOT guarantee which of the following rights?
right to bear arms
freedom of speech
Communist crop communes
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There were no Communist leanings in the Mexican constitution. Instead, this document bears some eerie resemblances to the one created by Mexico's northern neighbor.
The Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is often called the father of Mexico. At the beginning of the war for independence, he called men to arms and told them to fight off the Spanish.
The 1810 Battle of Calderón Bridge was part of the War of Independence. It found 100,000 insurgent troops facing how many Spanish regulars?
about 7,000
about 70,000
about 700,000
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At the Battle of Calderón Bridge, about 100,000 insurgents faced off against just 7,000 Spanish regulars. The battle should've been a rout. But things took an unexpected turn.
Although they were outnumbered 10 to 1, the Spanish won the Battle of Calderón Bridge. They were heavily armed against the 100,000 rebels, many of whom had primitive weapons. The crushing defeat meant that it would be a decade before the rebels won independence.
Since 2006, about how many people have been killed due to organized crime in Mexico?
about 20,000
about 200,000
about 20 million
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The carnage of the Mexican Drug War is hard to overstate. Since 2006, about 200,000 people have been killed, and more than 1.5 million people have been forced to move to escape violence.
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés destroyed the Aztec Empire with just a few hundred soldiers. How did he manage this feat?
political manipulation
fire
smallpox
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In the early 1500s, Hernán Cortés landed in the region with just a few hundred soldiers. But he pitted the locals against one another, slowly but surely bringing the mighty Aztec Empire to its knees.
What day is the Mexican equivalent of America's Fourth of July?
December 25
February 14
September 16
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September 16 is Mexican Independence Day. It marks the day that a true uprising gained momentum against Spanish leaders, culminating in independence 11 years later.
United States leaders made clear their interest in the lands between Mexico and America (and even tried to buy it), but the conflict boiled over into war. The U.S. won the war, and Mexico lost about 30% of its land.
Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán shot to fame as a leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and made incredible amounts of money as the boss. He's been arrested (and escaped) multiple times but is now in U.S. custody.
Who was U.S. president during the Mexican-American War?
James Madison
John Adams
James Polk
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James Polk wanted areas of the Southwest for the U.S., and made overtures to Mexican authorities in hopes of purchasing those lands. When they rejected his offer, Polk instead used force to seize Texas, and more.
What problem fed the flames of the 1910 Mexican Revolution?
state's rights
slavery
imbalance of wealth
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In 1910, Mexico's lower class was disgusted with the country's imbalance of wealth and power. The Revolution caught fire ... and nearly 2 million people died in the 10-year civil war.
In 1861, France (with the help of Britain and Spain) invaded Mexico and occupied Veracruz. The European powers were retaliating because Mexico paused its repayment of debts.
In 1861, France invaded Mexico to prevent Mexico from backing out of its loan repayments. Then, with help of wealthy Mexicans, the French installed Maximilian I as the Emperor of Mexico.
How did the reign of puppet leader Maximilian I end?
by firing squad
He was voted out of office
He died of natural causes.
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Just a few years after becoming a puppet leader of Mexico, Maximilian I faced an armed uprising. He and his men were cornered and captured ... and then executed by firing squad.
Santa Ana was in command of Mexican troops at the Battle of the Alamo. What happened at this battle?
Mexican troops were routed.
It was indecisive.
The Texians were slaughtered.
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At the Battle of the Alamo, Mexican troops surrounded the fort and laid siege. Days later, they attacked and killed every last man inside, sparing only women and children.
After the Mexican-American War, the U.S. agreed to do what?
withdraw to pre-war borders
pay $15 million for damages
install a puppet dictator
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After the Mexican-American War, American leaders agreed to pay $15 million for damages that the war caused to Mexico. The U.S. gained vast swaths of the southwest after the war.
