Early American History Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge

Question 1

Who is known as the 'Father of the Constitution'?

Accepted Answer

James Madison

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 2

Who led the American soldiers in the fight for independence from Great Britain?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

John Adams

Question 3

Who led the American colonists in their fight for freedom from Great Britain?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 4

Which of these events came first in American history?

Accepted Answer

Pilgrims arriving at Plymouth Rock

Answer

Start of the American Revolution

Answer

Writing of the U.S. Constitution

Answer

Louisiana Purchase

Question 5

Who emerged victorious in the Revolutionary War, securing independence for the United States?

Accepted Answer

Patriots

Answer

Loyalists

Answer

British Redcoats

Answer

French Army

Question 6

Who is known as the Father of Our Country?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 7

Which of these is a well-known symbol of the United States?

Accepted Answer

Statue of Liberty

Answer

Eiffel Tower

Answer

Great Wall of China

Answer

Taj Mahal

Question 8

Who assisted the Pilgrims in establishing the first permanent English settlement in North America?

Accepted Answer

Squanto

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Christopher Columbus

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 9

What was the first major event in the history of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock.

Answer

The Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Answer

The United States Constitution was adopted.

Answer

The United States won the Revolutionary War.

Question 10

Who was the first president of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 11

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

John Adams

Question 12

Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 13

Who is known as the first president of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 14

Why did the American colonists want to break away from Great Britain?

Accepted Answer

They wanted to create their own laws and have their own leaders.

Accepted Answer

They were upset about the taxes Great Britain forced them to pay.

Answer

They feared Great Britain would attack them.

Question 15

Which battle marked the start of the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Answer

Battle of Saratoga

Answer

Battle of Yorktown

Answer

Battle of Bunker Hill

Question 16

Which group of people left England and traveled to the New World in 1620?

Accepted Answer

Pilgrims

Answer

Jamestown settlers

Answer

Mayflower Compact

Question 17

Who were the first English people to settle permanently in North America?

Accepted Answer

The Pilgrims

Answer

The Jamestown colonists

Answer

The French colonists

Answer

The Spanish colonists

Question 18

In 1621, the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a special feast after the harvest. What was the name of this event?

Accepted Answer

Thanksgiving

Answer

Harvest Festival

Answer

Thanksgiving Dinner

Question 19

How did the first European settlers travel across the ocean to North America?

Accepted Answer

Sailing ships

Answer

Steamboats

Answer

Submarines

Answer

Hot air balloons

Question 20

Who is known for being the first European to arrive in America in 1492?

Accepted Answer

Christopher Columbus

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 21

Why did many families move west during the Westward Expansion?

Accepted Answer

To find gold and land

Answer

To hunt and gather food

Answer

To move there by the government

Answer

To run away from problems at home

Question 22

Which of these are symbols of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The American Flag and the Statue of Liberty

Answer

The Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China

Question 23

Which ship brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620, leading to the founding of Plymouth Colony?

Accepted Answer

The Mayflower

Answer

The Santa Maria

Answer

The Titanic

Question 24

In 1776, thirteen American colonies wanted to be free from Great Britain. What document did they sign to declare their independence?

Accepted Answer

The Declaration of Independence

Answer

The Constitution

Answer

The Bill of Rights

Question 25

Who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

John Hancock

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 26

What animal represents the United States of America?

Accepted Answer

Bald Eagle

Answer

Maple Leaf

Answer

Union Jack

Question 27

Who was the first president of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Question 28

In 1621, the Native Americans and the English settlers shared a special meal to celebrate the harvest. What was this day called?

Accepted Answer

Thanksgiving

Answer

Christmas

Answer

Halloween

Answer

Easter

Question 29

Why did the Pilgrims sail across the ocean to America?

Accepted Answer

To escape religious persecution

Answer

To find better jobs

Answer

To explore new lands

Question 30

Who is known as the Father of Our Country for leading the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 31

Why did the Pilgrims leave England and come to America?

Accepted Answer

To escape religious persecution

Answer

To find gold and other riches

Answer

To start a new colony

Answer

To explore the New World

Question 32

Who was the leader of the American colonists during the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Patrick Henry

Question 33

Who was the first President of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 34

Who is known as the 'Father of Our Country' for leading the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 35

Which event involved colonists protesting British taxes by destroying tea in Boston Harbor?

Accepted Answer

Boston Tea Party

Answer

Boston Massacre

Answer

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Answer

Declaration of Independence

Question 36

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence, which declared the American colonies free from British rule?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

George Washington

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 37

Long ago, a group of people called the Pilgrims left their home in England and traveled to a new land called America. Why do you think the Pilgrims left their home and came to America?

Accepted Answer

They were escaping religious persecution.

Answer

They wanted to find new animals to hunt.

Question 38

The Pilgrims sailed to America on the Mayflower. When they arrived in 1620, they celebrated their first harvest with a special meal shared with the Native Americans. What was the name of this meal?

Accepted Answer

Thanksgiving Feast

Answer

Christmas Dinner

Answer

Independence Day Picnic

Answer

Halloween Party

Question 39

Who was the leader of the American colonists during the Revolutionary War?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

Patrick Henry

Question 40

What animal represents the United States of America?

Accepted Answer

Bald Eagle

Answer

Robin

Question 41

Which document declared that the American colonies were free from British rule?

Accepted Answer

The Declaration of Independence

Answer

The Constitution

Answer

The Bill of Rights

Answer

The Articles of Confederation

Question 42

Who was the leader of the American army during the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 43

Before people from Europe came to America, who lived there?

Accepted Answer

Native Americans

Answer

Pilgrims

Answer

Cowboys

Question 44

Why were the colonists upset with the British?

Accepted Answer

The British made them pay taxes but didn't let them vote

Answer

The British forced them to go to church

Question 45

Who is known as the 'Father of Our Country' for leading the fight for independence from Great Britain?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 46

Who is known as the first president of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 47

Who led the American army during the Revolutionary War?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

John Adams

Question 48

Who led the Continental Army to victory against the British during the Revolutionary War?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Question 49

Who is known as the first president of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

Abraham Lincoln

Answer

Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Benjamin Franklin

Question 50

Who was the first European explorer to arrive in America?

Accepted Answer

Christopher Columbus

Answer

Hernán Cortés

Answer

Vasco da Gama

Answer

Ferdinand Magellan

Question 51

How did westward expansion shape the United States?

Accepted Answer

It increased the country's population and wealth.

Accepted Answer

It led to conflicts with Native American tribes.

Accepted Answer

It added new lands to the country.

Question 52

In what year did the American Revolution begin?

Accepted Answer

1775

Answer

1765

Answer

1783

Question 53

What was the main reason the colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

To list their complaints against the British government

Answer

To declare war on Great Britain

Answer

To create a new government for the United States

Answer

To ask for help from France

Question 54

What was a major result of the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The United States became its own country.

Answer

The British king was removed from power.

Answer

The American Revolution lasted more than 50 years.

Answer

The American Revolution was fought between the British and the Spanish.

Question 55

Why did the leaders of the United States create the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Answer

To give the federal government more power

Answer

To ensure the federal government could collect taxes

Answer

To record all the laws of the United States

Question 56

Abraham Lincoln led the United States during the Civil War, and Franklin D. Roosevelt led the country during the Great Depression and World War II. What did they have in common as leaders?

Accepted Answer

They asked their advisors and cabinet members for ideas and advice.

Answer

They made all decisions without asking for advice.

Answer

They led the country during times of peace and prosperity.

Answer

They had very little experience before becoming president.

Question 57

What big event was the very first step in the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The Boston Tea Party

Answer

The Declaration of Independence

Answer

The Battle of Saratoga

Answer

The Treaty of Paris

Question 58

Who wrote the famous Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Thomas Jefferson

Answer

Mr. John Adams

Answer

Mr. Benjamin Franklin

Answer

Mr. George Washington

Question 59

Which battle was so important that it changed the course of the American Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The Battle of Saratoga

Answer

The Battle of Bunker Hill

Answer

The Battle of Yorktown

Answer

The Battle of Trenton

Question 60

When did the United States finally win its independence from Great Britain?

Accepted Answer

In the year 1783

Answer

In the year 1774

Answer

In the year 1776

Answer

In the year 1789

Question 61

What kind of government was created by the United States after it gained independence?

Accepted Answer

Republic

Answer

Monarchy

Answer

Oligarchy

Answer

Dictatorship

Question 62

Which amendment in the Constitution protects our right to speak our minds?

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment

Answer

The Second Amendment

Answer

The Third Amendment

Answer

The Fourth Amendment

Question 63

What happened after the American Revolution ended?

Accepted Answer

The United States became its own country, separate from Great Britain.

Answer

The United States and Great Britain became close friends.

Question 64

Who was the very first president of the United States?

Accepted Answer

George Washington

Answer

John Adams

Answer

Thomas Jefferson