47 American History Trivia Questions and Answers
American history trivia from the colonies and the Revolution through the Civil War to the twentieth century, with a good number of questions on the Constitution and its amendments. It works as a classroom review or as a quiz-night round. Answers are shown with each question.
There are 47 questions on this page. They are free to use for quiz nights, classrooms and pub quizzes, and each one links to its own page.
Related lists: US Presidents trivia questions, US States trivia questions, 60s trivia questions, 50s trivia questions.
1.Which U.S. President, who served from 1845-1849, was in office at the beginning of the California gold rush?
Answer: JAMES K. POLK
Open this question2.A few questions about the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor: a. On which island is Pearl Harbor located? b. On which date did this attack occur? c. What three-word phrase did President Roosevelt use to describe the day of this attack?
Answer: a. OAHU b. DECEMBER 7, 1941 c. DAY OF INFAMY
Open this question3.The statement, "The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied because of sex" became a part of the U.S. Constitution in what year? Was it 1787 when the constitution was written, or as an amendment in 1865, 1920, or 1945?
Answer: 1920 - 19th amendment to the constitution
Open this question4.According to the U.S. Constitution, if none of the candidates for President gains a majority of the electoral votes, how would the choice of President be made?
Answer: DECIDED BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Open this question5.This person made his fortune by supplying meat to the Union soldiers during the Civil War. In 1870 he built his first meat-packing plant in Chicago, which soon made that city the meat-packing center of the U.S.A. What was his name?
Answer: PHILIP ARMOUR
Open this question6.On November 15, 1864, during the U.S. Civil War, which general in the northern army burned Atlanta?
Answer: WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN 1820-1891.
Open this question7.An English colonist in Virginia, John Rolfe, introduced and planted tobacco in the colonies. In 1614, he married the daughter of a local indian chief and went to England to live with her. What was her name?
Answer: POCAHONTAS
Open this question8.During the great depression of the 1930's, encampments of poor and homeless people were often named after the President in office when the depression started. What were these homeless encampments called?
Answer: HOOVERVILLES
Open this question9.The Declaration of Independence was written primarily by which person?
Answer: THOMAS JEFFERSON
Open this question10.Which Amendment to the US Constitution grants people the right to keep and bear Arms?
Answer: 2ND
Open this question11.The first African slaves were brought to the colonies in America in 1619 by which nationality of Europeans?
Answer: DUTCH
Open this question12.Just before the US Civil war, what were the first two states to secede from the union?
Answer: SOUTH CAROLINA (first) / MISSISSIPPI (second)
Open this question13.According to the opinion of President Lincoln, which best-selling 1852 novel helped bring on the American Civil War?
Answer: "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN"
Open this question14.During the Civil War, were these states Union or Confederate? A. West Virginia b. Kentucky c. Texas
Answer: a. UNION b. UNION c. CONFEDERATE
Open this question15.Just before the Gold Rush, the town of San Francisco, especially the section along the Bay, was known by what name?
Answer: YERBA BUENA
Open this question16.In 1804, Lewis and Clark began the first exploration of the American west. They began their journey in St. Louis, and followed which river westward for 1,000 miles ?
Answer: MISSOURI
Open this question17.At the time the American colonies went to war with England, which American city had the largest population?
Answer: PHILADELPHIA
Open this question18.After the American Civil War, 15,000 freed slaves emigrated to what African country?
Answer: LIBERIA
Open this question19.Which two people signed the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and later became U.S. Presidents?
Answer: GEORGE WASHINGTON / JAMES MADISON
Open this question20.According to the constitution, what determines the exact number of electoral votes permitted to each state?
Answer: EQUAL TO NUMBER OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
Open this question21.Of the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence, about two-thirds of these men were lawyers, judges, and merchants, but about ten of them had what down-to-earth vocation?
Answer: FARMER
Open this question22.The Liberty Bell was cast in which city: Philadelphia, Boston, or London?
Answer: LONDON
Open this question23.Article 1, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution requires that every 10 years, what should happen?
Answer: CENSUS TAKE PLACE
Open this question24.Prohibition, the legal outlawing of alcoholic beverages, was in effect from 1920 to what year?
Answer: 1933 +/- 1
Open this question25.The first great battle of the Revolutionary War was fought near Boston in June 1775, on which elevated terrain?
Answer: BUNKER HILL BREED'S HILL
Open this question26.In the 1850's, this escaped slave made 19 secretive trips to the South, and led more than 300 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad, despite a bounty of $40,000 on her head. She was never caught. What was her name?
Answer: HARRIET TUBMAN
Open this question27.Which Virginia resident was commander-in-chief of the Continental army during the American Revolution?
Answer: GEORGE WASHINGTON
Open this question28.The first written Constitution in North America was written in 1620 by Pilgrims just before landing at Plymouth rock. It remained the fundamental law of the Plymouth colony until the late seventeenth century. What was it called?
Answer: THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT
Open this question29.The first person to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was what wealthy Boston businessman?
Answer: JOHN HANCOCK
Open this question30.When the U.S. Constitution was written and signed by the delegates to the Constitutional convention on 9/17/1787, in which order did the delegates sign it?
Answer: NORTH TO SOUTH - N.H. first, Ga. last
Open this question31.The framework of the Statue of Liberty was designed by which well-known European engineer?
Answer: ALEXANDRE GUSTAVE EIFFEL
Open this question32.A certain style of facial hair was named for a Major General in the American Civil War, who sported such a style. What's the name of this style, and what was the name of the General?
Answer: SIDEBURNS / AMBROSE E. BURNSIDES 1824-1881
Open this question33.Which one of these people did not sign the Declaration of Independence: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin?
Answer: WASHINGTON
Open this question34.From which sea-port on the southern coast of Britain did the Mayflower set sail for the New World in 1620, and in which New World location did she land?
Answer: PLYMOUTH / PLYMOUTH
Open this question35.It has been called the greatest real estate bargain in history. One million square miles of French-claimed land were purchased at 4 cents an acre, more than doubling the size of the United States. What was this bargain called and who is responsible for it?
Answer: LOUISIANA PURCHASE / THOMAS JEFFERSON
Open this question36.Did Benjamin Franklin sign the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, both, or neither?
Answer: BOTH
Open this question37.Which two people signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and later became U.S. Presidents?
Answer: JOHN ADAMS / THOMAS JEFFERSON
Open this question38.What amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery?
Answer: Thirteenth Amendment
Open this question39.What amendment to the US Constitution sets the presidential term limit to two terms?
Answer: 22nd Amendment
Open this question40.What brand of jeans was originally designed for gold miners during the California Gold Rush?
Answer: Levi's
Open this question41.How many amendments are in the US Bill of Rights?
Answer: Ten
Open this question42.What US constitutional amendment gave women the right to vote?
Answer: 19th Amendment
Open this question43.What amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right to a speedy trial?
Answer: Sixth Amendment
Open this question44.What landmark 1954 Supreme Court case declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional?
Answer: Brown v. Board of Education
Open this question45.In what year was the US Constitution ratified?
Answer: 1788
Open this question46.What document outlines the structure and powers of the US federal government?
Answer: The Constitution
Open this question47.What amendment to the US Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?
Answer: Fourth Amendment
Open this question