Can You Pick These Awesome Historical Figures Out Of A Lineup?
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 27 min play time
Throughout history, writers, inventors, and politicians have shaped the world in which we live. The question remains, could you pick any of these awesome historical figures out of a lineup? Take this quiz and see how many you can identify.
Quiz written by
Daniel RackleyHistorical Figures Quiz Questions
72 Questions · 26K Plays · 18 Comments
Question 1
“Four score and seven years ago...” this president ended slavery in the South. Name that Great Emancipator.
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AHarriet Tubman
-
BAbraham Lincoln
-
CUlysses Grant
-
DAndrew Johnson
Abraham Lincoln
If you ask anyone who history's greatest president was, most would likely go with Lincoln. And for good reason. The powerful leader and speaker preserved the Union when it was at the brink of division. Through the Civil War, he emancipated the slaves, and his stalwart leadership was viewed as George Washington-esque by some even in his time. This larger-than-life president was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, becoming a martyr in the eyes of many.
Question 2
Which perpetually sullen poet was the author of "The Raven"?
-
AE.M. Forster
-
BEdgar Allan Poe
-
CCormac McCarthy
-
DJohn Irving
Edgar Allan Poe
"To the swinging and the ringing...Of the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells – To the rhyming and the chiming of the bells!" Bells rang in Edgar Allan Poe's head when he wrote "The Bells" and "The Raven", and a heartbeat under the floorboards when he wrote his short story, "The Tell-tale Heart". The 19th-century writer and poet knew how to build suspense and dwelled in the macabre and mysterious.
Question 3
This bard knew how to write, penning some of the greatest poems and plays in the books. Name that Brit.
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AChristopher Marlowe
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BWilliam Shakespeare
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CAnton Chekhov
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DLord Byron
William Shakespeare
"To be, or not to be. That is the question." Where would we be without the words of William Shakespeare? From sonnets to plays, Shakespeare's talent for spinning drama and comedy is unparalleled. His plays are still performed in theaters across the world, and 'Hamlet', 'Macbeth', 'Romeo & Juliet', and 'Henry IV' are still as powerful today as when first performed. So, the answer to that question is "to be."
Question 4
Hello, Hollywood. What "Great Communicator" has an economic theory named after him?
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ATina Fey
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BGeorge H. W. Bush
-
CBenjamin Harrison
-
DRonald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
The Republican Party continues to hold their golden child, Ronald Reagan, in high esteem. The Hollywood actor-turned-president, lauded for his folksy likeability and charm, was called "the Great Communicator" for a reason. The orator believed less was more when it comes to government, saying, "The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.” His anti-communist views produced policies that are credited with destabilizing Soviet communism and his trickle-down economic policies, known as Reaganomics, helped end the 1980 recession.
Question 5
Who is this American Founding Father and all-around Renaissance Man?
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ABenjamin Franklin
-
BAlexander Graham Bell
-
CGeorge Washington
-
DSamuel Adams
Benjamin Franklin
“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” The late Renaissance Man did both. The inventor of bifocals and the lightning rod, Benjamin Franklin dipped his toe in everything, including science, writing, printing, publishing, inventing, and of course, politics, bringing the Age of Enlightenment to America. As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Franklin was instrumental in drafting the Declaration of Independence (he even signed his work!) and, during the American Revolution, was a diplomat to France, representing the United States.
Question 6
This president led the Union to victory over the Confederate states during the Civil War. Name that general.
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AWarren Harding
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BJohn Adams
-
CUlysses S. Grant
-
DHamlet
Ulysses S. Grant
As the Union general who beat out the Confederate States during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant made a name for himself on the battlefield. But leadership on the battlefield does not necessarily translate to leadership in the highest office in the land. Grant is often ranked by historians in the lower half of U.S. presidents, as his presidential tenure is viewed as weak tea.
Question 7
Although Henry Ford didn't invent the assembly line, he pioneered its use in the production of which form of transport?
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ABikes
-
BBoats
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CTrains
-
DCars
Cars
The assembly line for mass production of automobiles was first installed on December 1, 1913.
Question 8
Known as "the father of American literature," what author's real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens?
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AJohn Steinbeck
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BJack London
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CCharles Dickens
-
DMark Twain
Mark Twain
Heralded as "the father of American literature" by none other than William Faulkner, Mark Twain (aka, Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was a man of many trades. The 19th-century humorist, lecturer, publisher, entrepreneur, and writer launched his career with travel narratives, such as <i>The Innocents Abroad</i> and <i>Roughing It</i>. Later, arguably his best-known feats, <i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> and <i>Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</i>, made him a cherished writer the world over.
Question 9
The CIA tried to kill him an estimated 638 times. Who is this invincible Cuban revolutionary?
-
ARaul Castro
-
BChe Guevara
-
CFidel Castro
-
DFulgencio Batista
Fidel Castro
This man was wanted...dead or alive. The communist revolutionary of Latin America, Fidel Castro, led Cuba to become the first communist state on the west side of the globe. And he succeeded in getting himself blacklisted by the United States who imposed a trade embargo. His nearly five-decade rule included sweeping reforms, and with the good came the bad – free education and healthcare on one hand, silencing the free press on the other.
Question 10
What man brought us the theories of gravity and the basic laws of motion?
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AStephen Hawking
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BCharles Darwin
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CWilliam Harvey
-
DIsaac Newton
Isaac Newton
When an ordinary man sees an apple fall from a tree, he picks it up and eats it. When Isaac Newton does, he comes up with the theory of gravity. Newton's great mind was challenged by the fields of mathematics, physics, and astronomy, which led him to theories in optics and planetary motion. His 'Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica' is said to be the foundation of modern physics.
Question 11
Known for his "fireside chats," this president brought us through the Great Depression and WWII. Who was this steadfast leader, the only one elected four times?
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AFranklin D. Roosevelt
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BHerbert Hoover
-
CBen Franklin
-
DHarry Truman
Franklin D. Roosevelt
As one of the most beloved commanders-in-chief, Franklin D. Roosevelt often ranks in the upper tier of history's greatest U.S. presidents. He was tested to the utmost during his record-breaking four-term tenure, leading the country through the Great Depression and WWII. Abroad, he combatted Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, and at home, he expanded federal governmental power through his New Deal.
Question 12
The Wright brothers pioneered aviation and changed the world. What were their first names?
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ASamuel and Hubert
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BJames and Herbert
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COrville and Wilbur
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DGeorge and Clancy
Orville and Wilbur
Wilbur Wright was born on April 16, 1867. His younger brother Orville was born on August 19, 1871.
Question 13
Seems there were plenty of fathers birthing the Renaissance. Who is this "father of science," the first to use a telescope in sky observation?
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AGalileo Galilei
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BJohannes Kepler
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CAlbert Einstein
-
DParacelsus
Galileo Galilei
Let's take to the skies with Galileo Galilei, the man who brought us the telescope with magnifying lenses 30x strong. The Italian stargazer drew out the phases of Venus and spotted Jupiter's satellites. He's also credited with discoveries in the kinematics of motion and improving upon gadgets, like military compasses. Einstein called him "the father of modern science." And what Einstein says, goes.
Question 14
As well as serving 9 years as the 34th U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower had a decorated military career. What rank did he reach in the United States Army?
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AColonel
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BCaptain
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CMajor
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DFive-star General
Five-star General
Dwight Eisenhower was a Five-star General in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Question 15
Known for his sparse prose and sense of adventure, what author wrote The Old Man and the Sea?
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AJohn Steinbeck
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BArthur Conan Doyle
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CErnest Hemingway
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DMark Twain
Ernest Hemingway
Once a journalist, Hemingway's economical writing style emerged from what he called the "iceberg theory" – with little at the surface and lots unseen going on beneath. Hemingway was famous for more than his writing. He was a notorious sportsman who lived an adventurous life worth writing about. Unsurprisingly, his work – which includes greats such as <i>For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Sun Also Rises</i>, and <i>Farewell to Arms</i> – earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
Question 16
Who is this England-born philosopher of “Common Sense," which advocated for American independence?
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AEdward Gibbon
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BThomas Paine
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CWinston Churchill
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DGaetano Filangieri
Thomas Paine
"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead," political philosopher, Thomas Paine, wrote. The writer published "Common Sense" in 1776, the very first pamphlet supporting American independence. He also supported revolutions in Europe, including the French Revolution, for which he wrote "Rights of Man".
Question 17
Famous for more than getting stuck in the White House bathtub, this president is the only one to have served on the Supreme Court after his presidential term. Name that heavyweight.
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AMichael Jordan
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BMillard Fillmore
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CZachary Taylor
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DWilliam Taft
William Taft
We've all heard the unlikely story about "Big Bill" Taft getting stuck in the White House bathtub. While that's likely a tall-tale, the hefty president, standing nearly six feet tall, is said to have tipped the scales at 350 pounds. Rude rumors aside, Taft's appointment to the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court in 1921 by President Warren G. Harding, made him the only president to hold both offices. Quite an impressive feat!
Question 18
Another Founding Father, what president primarily wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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AJames Madison
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BJames Monroe
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CThomas Jefferson
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DMark Twain
Thomas Jefferson
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." These powerful words were written by none other than the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson is credited with drafting the Declaration of Independence, advocating for the separation of church and state, founding the University of Virginia, and scoring the Louisiana Purchase. Gee, Jefferson, leave some accomplishments for the rest of us!
Question 19
This king wed many wives in search of a male heir, even creating a new church to divorce his first. Name that terrible husband.
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AKing Henry VIII
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BKing Johnny Walker
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CKing Richard III
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DKing Henry IV
King Henry VIII
Henry VIII probably didn't win any "best hubbie" awards, but he did reign during the English Renaissance and Reformation. He broke away from the Catholic Church and created the Church of England, of which he was the head...all so he could divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Of his wives, he divorced two, beheaded two more, one of them died from complications at birth, and the last one survived. He finally got his male heir in Prince Edward, after marrying Jane Seymour...though it was arguably his sister, Elizabeth, who rocked her succession.
Question 20
After Roosevelt passed, this president made the heavy decision to drop the A-bomb.
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AKim Jong-Il
-
BFranklin D. Roosevelt
-
CDwight Eisenhower
-
DHarry Truman
Harry Truman
Then-Vice President Harry S. Truman was ushered into the driver's seat when FDR passed away, leaving him in the grips of WWII. Previously unaware of the Manhattan Project, Truman was handed the difficult decision to drop the A-bomb, which he ultimately did. That wasn't the only tough war-time decision he made as president; he also sent forces to prevent the expansion of communism in Korea. Let the Cold War begin.
Question 21
Cartoons featuring Road Runner and Wyle E. Coyote just wouldn't be the same without this mind-blowing Alfred Nobel invention. What was it?
-
AFireworks
-
BDynamite
-
CGun powder
-
DHand grenades
Dynamite
Alfred Nobel mixed nitroglycerine with kieselguhr to make a paste, which he formed into rods and named dynamite.
Question 22
Rudolf Diesel lent his name to the mechanical device that became his most famous invention. What type of device was it?
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AElectric battery
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BEngine
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CSpark plug
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DPrinting press
Engine
Rudolf Diesel's work in engine design had the goal of a much higher efficiency ratio than steam engines.
Question 23
Known for being a military mastermind, which Macedonian king kicked off the Hellenistic Period?
-
APtolemy
-
BSocrates
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CPhillip II
-
DAlexander the Great
Alexander the Great
The King of both Macedonia and Persia, Alexander the Great went down in history as one of the strongest military masterminds of all time. He was both cruel and diplomatic, and his armies are said to have been loyal to the death. Not only did he create the largest empire in the ancient world, but he also impacted Greek and Asian culture. He was so impressive, legend has it that his father was the Greek god, Zeus.
Question 24
This escaped slave is credited with leading many more to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Name that abolitionist.
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ASojourner Truth
-
BViola Davis
-
CHarriet Tubman
-
DRosa Parks
Harriet Tubman
Leading abolitionist Harriet Tubman escaped the South and took hundreds of slaves with her. Using the secret network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad, Tubman aided slaves on the dangerous journey to freedom before the Civil War broke out. She was the Underground's most famous conductor and is lovingly called the "Moses of her people".
Question 25
This Argentine allied himself with Fidel Castro during the Cuban revolution. Name that Marxist revolutionary.
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ARaul Castro
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BChe Guevara
-
CVladimir Lenin
-
DJoseph Stalin
Che Guevara
The famous guerrilla leader, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, was a military strategist, diplomat, author, and revolutionary. His visage became the picture of rebellion and symbolic of the counterculture at the time, opposing capitalism. Even today, Che's face is globally recognizable in pop culture. But he was not just a face; his actions and words were powerful. He said: "The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” And that, he did.
Question 26
Which impressive Pole finally put the Sun at the center of the galaxy?
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ANicolaus Copernicus
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BConrad Gessner
-
CLeon Battista Alberti
-
DJohn Milton
Nicolaus Copernicus
Remember when humans thought that Earth was the center of the universe? Yeah, neither do we. That's because Nicolaus Copernicus came along and blew that theory out of the water. Copernicus is the first to push the heliocentric model of the Solar System (the planets revolving around the Sun). Although he wasn't the first astronomer to suggest this radical idea, he expanded upon it and created a formula that more accurately calculated the positions of planets. Being a true Renaissance Man, he didn't stop at astronomy. He also delved into governance, medicine, and even economics, for which he wrote the Quantity Theory of Money.
Question 27
The roots of the Enlightenment are traced to a few Renaissance Men, including this scientist with incredible hair. Name that "principled" physicist.
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ANikola Tesla
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BElon Musk
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CIsaac Newton
-
DAlbert Einstein
Isaac Newton
Newton's "Principia Mathematica," written in 1686, is said to have been one of the primary influences on the era of thinking and reason. His theory of the laws of motion put into motion the Age of Enlightenment.
Question 28
Alexander Fleming was a biologist and pharmacologist by trade, but his most famous discovery was accidental and changed medicine forever. Which substance did he identify and isolate?
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APenicillin
-
BAspirin
-
CValium
-
DParacetamol
Penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin after carelessly leaving a culture plate out in his lab before going on holiday. He came back to find that mold had grown - the mold that would end up being the world's first true antibiotic.
Question 29
The author of "Common Sense" was instrumental in America's Revolutionary War. Name that political writer.
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AJohn Hancock
-
BThomas Paine
-
CThomas Jefferson
-
DGeorge Washington
Thomas Paine
Writing the very first pamphlet to promote American independence, the England-born political writer, Thomas Paine, was no stranger to revolution. He advocated for causes in both America and Europe, including the French Revolution in his written defense, "Rights of Man". "Common Sense", his first pamphlet, was internationally lauded and he continued on with his analysis in his Revolutionary War papers, “The American Crisis". Probably not a great surprise that the man spent a stretch in prison.
Question 30
What Russian ruler tried to instill enlightened government reforms using liberal humanitarian political theories?
-
AIvan the Terrible
-
BCatherine the Great
-
CNicholas I of Russia
-
DJoseph Stalin
Catherine the Great
Another leader who attempted to apply the theories of the age was Empress of Russia Catherine the Great. She extended the work of Peter the Great, integrating Russia into the cultural and political life of Europe. During her tenure, she reorganized Russian law and invoked liberal humanitarian political theories into reforms, such as: "All men should be considered equal before the law," and, "The law should protect, not oppress, the people."
Question 31
This leader said, "You will kill ten of us, we will kill one of you, but in the end, you will tire of it first," and he was right. Name that Vietnamese revolutionary.
-
AMao Zedong
-
BHo Chi Minh
-
CTon Duc Thang
-
DFidel Castro
Ho Chi Minh
Known as "Uncle Ho," Ho Chi Minh became the symbol of Vietnamese independence. After joining the Communist Party, he was one of the founders of the Indochinese Communist Party. After WWII ended, Ho and his forces seized Hanoi, which then became a Democratic State of Vietnam with none other than Uncle Ho as president. The country struggled to unify for the next 25 years that he was president, as the anti-Communist regime in the south, backed by the U.S., fought against the north. U.S. troops were still fighting the lost war when Ho Chi Minh died in 1969.
Question 32
Said to have fiddled while Rome burned, what Roman emperor blamed it on the Christians?
-
AJoaquin Phoenix
-
BCaligula
-
CNero
-
DAugustus
Nero
Notorious for his debaucheries, Nero was amongst the most reviled of Rome's rulers. The fifth Roman emperor was lavish and extravagant, building the Golden House; and he was also tyrannical, purportedly killing his mother and persecuting Christians. But he loved the arts and would perform for his fans...who weren't allowed to leave.
Question 33
He had a dream and we're still working toward it. Who is this inspiring Civil Rights leader?
-
AMartin Luther
-
BMalcolm X
-
CBarack Obama
-
DMartin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
His spirited "I Have A Dream" speech still rings in our ears. Martin Luther King, Jr., led peaceful protests, calling for equality, saying: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." His words and actions – including the March on Washington – spurred the Civil Rights Movement, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which ended segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968, and MLK day has been celebrated in his honor since 1986.
Question 34
What fearless leader was once called "the most dangerous woman in America"?
-
ABeyoncé
-
B'Mother' Jones
-
CHillary Clinton
-
DLeola King
'Mother' Jones
The "most dangerous woman in America" was a teacher and dressmaker by day and a radical firebrand by night. Mother Jones – Mary Harris Jones – helped coordinate strikes as part of the Industrial Workers of the World. She was given the "dangerous" title due to her success in organizing the United Mine Workers union and the Knights of Labor. She further organized children's marches to advocate for child labor laws. The U.S. Senate also called her the “grandmother of all agitators”...sounds like the Senate hasn't changed much.
Question 35
Not only was he a poet, this Lord died in the war for Greek independence. Name that "gloomy egoist".
-
ALord Bryan
-
BLord Byron
-
CLord Bach
-
DLord Bates
Lord Byron
Lord Byron is considered a poetic revolutionary in the Romantic Movement, but he also fought in the war for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire. He died there, living his words: "The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain."
Question 36
Which Renaissance Man does NOT have a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle named after him?
-
ACaravaggio
-
BRaphael
-
CLeonardo
-
DMichelangelo
Caravaggio
Everyone's favorite turtles were all Renaissance artists: Leonardo (blue), Donatello (purple), Michelangelo (orange), and Raphael (red). Why? Because the TMNT creators, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, were artists and art history aficionados, with the Renaissance greats being amongst their favorites. Donatello nearly got recast as Bernini, but Caravaggio didn't make the cut. Sorry, Charlie.
Question 37
This man has a Tony-award winning musical named after him. Who is this author of the Federalist Papers?
-
AJohn Madison
-
BJohn Adams
-
CMama Mia
-
DAlexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
You might've known little about Alexander Hamilton before Tony winner, performer, and composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda came along. But the political philosopher was a great Enlightenment thinker and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. He helped author the Federalist Papers – 85 letters to newspapers, advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and supporting a strong central government.
Question 38
Perhaps the prototypical "Renaissance Man", this artist was also an inventor. Name that Mona Lisa master painter.
-
AMichelangelo
-
BRaphael
-
CLeonardo da Vinci
-
DThomas Edison
Leonardo da Vinci
This master painter was a master of all. Not only did he paint the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, but he had stacks of notebooks with various avant-garde inventions, like the odometer and the parachute. Leonardo da Vinci was a sculptor, an engineer, an architect, and a draftsman. I mean, how much more 'Renaissance Man' can you get?
Question 39
Thomas Jefferson served as the third President of the United States. He was also the principal author of which historic document?
-
ADeclaration of Independence
-
BLouisiana Purchase Treaty
-
CConstitution of the United States
-
DBill of Rights
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, with Congress editing the final version.
Question 40
Commonly regarded as the greatest epic poem in English, "Paradise Lost" was authored by whom?
-
AJohn Cusack
-
BJohn Napier
-
CJohn Milton
-
DJohn Donne
John Milton
"Paradise Lost" is considered the greatest epic poem in English, gaining John Milton renowned praise. But, as with most Renaissance Men, Milton was interested in all worldly things, namely the French and American revolutions and the English civil wars.
Question 41
This royal lived up to his name, modernizing Russia and making it a country to contend with. Name that Russian tsar.
-
ATsar Peter the Great
-
BTsar Ivan the Terrible
-
CTsar Teddy Roosevelt
-
DTsar Alexander II
Tsar Peter the Great
Tsar Peter I – aka Peter the Great – tagteamed the empire with his half-brother Ivan V, before taking the lead. He is credited with reforming Russia, which had fallen behind on the global stage. Developing everything from economy and trade to science and culture, he managed to lock in Russia as a major player.
Question 42
"Call me Ishmael..." Which author brought us Ahab and the great white whale?
-
AHerman Melville
-
BRudyard Kipling
-
CFlannery O'Connor
-
DJames Fenimore Cooper
Herman Melville
Search for that elusive white whale alongside Captain Ahab with Herman Melville's <i>Moby Dick</i>. This great American novel, written at the height of the American Renaissance period, is amongst the major magnum opuses of American literature.
Question 43
This exiled Italian statesman has a prototypical literary character named after him. Name that author of 'The Prince'.
-
ASigmund Freud
-
BNiccolo Machiavelli
-
CSilvio Berlusconi
-
DNapoleon Bonaparte
Niccolo Machiavelli
It's no wonder Machiavelli had a literary prototype named after him. He believed that when it comes to cold, calculating, and cunning behavior, the ends justify the means. Machiavelli wrote 'The Prince', a political treatise and tale of 16th-century power. Likely, he wanted some of that power, himself, as he was an exiled statesman. Apparently, he rubbed the Medici family the wrong way.
Question 44
This revolutionary's words to live by are oft-quoted: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Who was this changer?
-
AIndira Gandhi
-
BVallabhbhai Patel
-
CSalman Rushdie
-
DMahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
The "father of India," Mahatma Gandhi was the change he wanted to see in the world. In a revolutionary way, he prompted peaceful protests, being a political dissident without warring. In doing so, he led India's independence from Britain in the '30s and '40s, using his words and nonviolence to further the country's agenda. His peaceful revolution inspired Martin Luther King, Jr., and even the Dalai Lama.
Question 45
Known for his 'Divine Comedy', who wrote this vision of eternity?
-
ADante Alighieri
-
BJ.K. Rowling
-
CVirgil
-
DSandro Botticelli
Dante Alighieri
If you want to travel down the nine circles of hell, let Dante lead the way. The Italian poet created his trilogy, 'The Divine Comedy', depicting the Christian afterlife as a journey through the rings of lust, greed, anger, gluttony, and more until one reaches the center of hell. Almost makes you want to live forever.
Question 46
Brilliant botanist and inventor George Washington Carver is well known for discovering many unconventional uses for which humble crop?
-
ABarley
-
BPeanuts
-
CCotton
-
DWheat
Peanuts
George Washington Carver managed to turn peanuts into more than 100 different products incudling gasoline, plastics, dyes and even an untested treatment for polio.
Question 47
Holding office for only a month, which U.S. president served the shortest term in office?
-
ALil Kim
-
BRichard Nixon
-
CWarren Harding
-
DWilliam Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
Unfortunately, William Henry Harrison's presidential tenure was short-lived (literally). Lasting only a month as ninth president in 1841, he died of typhoid or pneumonia after only 31 days in office. It's safe to say he didn't accomplish much in that short period, but his death did establish the proper succession regarding presidential deaths in office when VP John Tyler assumed the presidency – something the early constitution wasn't previously crystal clear on.
Question 48
Who is this 20th century poet who ushered in the Modernist movement with his work, The Waste Land?
-
AL. Frank Baum
-
BE.E. Cummings
-
CSalman Rushdie
-
DT.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot
T.S. Eliot served up essays, plays, and critiques, and is known as "one of the twentieth century's major poets." Although he was born in Missouri, he spent most of his life in England, where he wrote his epic works, <i>The Waste Land</i> and <i>Four Quartets</i>.
Question 49
Who is this "philosopher-king" who ruled Prussia during the 18th century?
-
AFrederick the Great
-
BRuđer Josip Bošković
-
CAlexander the Great
-
DVladimir Putin
Frederick the Great
While the thinkers of the day were putting their great minds to work, some of the top leaders of the day took these admirable ideals into account. One of those leaders was the ruler of the Kingdom of Prussia, Frederick II. He was known as the "philosopher-king," as he was a regular correspondent with the Enlightenment's leading minds, including Voltaire. A patron of the arts and sciences, the Prussian leader's military tactics made his kingdom a major contender during the 18th century.
Question 50
Who is the acclaimed author of the English works, 'The Canterbury Tales'?
-
AGeoffrey Chaucer
-
BMiguel de Cervantes
-
CCharles Dickens
-
DJohn Donne
Geoffrey Chaucer
"Time and tide wait for no man." English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, was right, as it didn't wait for him to finish his famous poetic work, 'The Canterbury Tales'. You can read his tales as you visit him in the "Poet's Corner" of Westminster Abbey, where he was laid to rest.
Question 51
This defining figure in Ethiopian history was also seen as the returned messiah by the Rastafari movement. Name that emperor.
-
AHaile Selassie I
-
BTewodros II
-
CMenelik II
-
DMusa I
Haile Selassie I
Haile Selassie I hoped to modernize Ethiopia and, holding internationalist views, it looked like he might. Under Selassie, Ethiopia became a member of the United Nations, while strengthening education and the police force in the country. But he is criticized for political oppression, and after the famine of 1973, he was removed from the throne and killed.
Question 52
Said to have inspired Dracula, who is this Prince of Wallachia?
-
AHagar the Horrible
-
BWilliam the Bad
-
CVlad the Impaler
-
DIvan the Terrible
Vlad the Impaler
Romanian Prince Vlad III of Wallachia was ruthless. So ruthless, in fact, that many think Bram Stoker based his blood-sucking vampire, Dracula, on good ol' Vlad. How'd he gain such notoriety? Glad you asked: Vlad the Impaler liked to, well, impale his enemies on stakes. He was known for punishing and torturing them cruelly, leaving them impaled in the ground to die a slow death. In doing so, he inspired fear in his enemies and, also, a blood-thirsty vampire.
Question 53
Who is this author who wrote the instant American classic To Kill a Mockingbird, which has been taught in high school English ever since?
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AHarper Lee
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BAgatha Christie
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CEugene O'Neill
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DCarson McCullers
Harper Lee
Another book that you probably won't get through school without reading is <i>To Kill a Mockingbird</i>. And for good reason. Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winner about a lawyer's fight for justice against prejudice in the South was an instant classic. If you want to retain that image of Atticus Finch, don't read her follow-up, <i>Go Set a Watchman</i>. Let's just say the old man will disappoint you.
Question 54
Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the American presidency after John F. Kennedy's assassination. What was his job prior to being elected to the House of Representatives?
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AAccountant
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BHigh School Teacher
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CDoctor
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DDentist
High School Teacher
Lyndon B. Johnson graduated college in 1930, teaching high school public speaking prior to his political career.
Question 55
Who is this reclusive poet, praised posthumously for her body of work?
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ASylvia Plath
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BEmily Dickinson
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CEdith Wharton
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DJane Austen
Emily Dickinson
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." Emily Dickinson wrote for no one but herself. The reclusive poet's work was only recognized posthumously. But once it was, her poetry was praised for its syntax and form.
Question 56
Theodore Roosevelt served as Vice-President of the U.S. for 6 months prior to his Presidency. What was the name of his assassinated predecessor?
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ABenjamin Harrison
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BGrover Cleveland
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CChester A. Arthur
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DWilliam McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, when he succumbed to gangrene eight days after being shot while mingling with the public.
Question 57
What famous Florence family is known for patronizing many Renaissance artists?
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AThe Sopranos
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BThe Guggenheim family
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CThe Medici family
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DThe Vespucci family
The Medici family
The Italian Renaissance may not have been born without the patronage of the Medici family, headed by Lorenzo. The wealthy Florentine family funded some of the greats (or got their rich friends to fund them), including Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. Lorenzo the Magnificent, as he was known in his circle, was actually an artist himself, so it's no doubt he had an eye for the greats.
Question 58
This royal of Bavaria may have been insane, but he did build the Disney princess castle. Name that Mad King.
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AKing Maximilian
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BKing Ludwig II
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CKing Otto
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DKing Harry
King Ludwig II
“I wish forever to remain an enigma, both to myself and others," King Ludwig II once said. And he was. To some, he was the Mad King; to others, he was the Swan King. Known for throwing money at castles – like Neuschwanstein, which is said to have inspired Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle – he nearly bankrupted Bavaria. He was declared insane in the end. Some might say he was just imaginative.
Question 59
The 'Virgin Queen' was the daughter of Henry VIII by Anne Boleyn. Name that powerful Queen of England.
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AQueen Elizabeth I
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BQueen Victoria
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CQueen Mildred
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DQueen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth I
Good Queen Bess was a successful leader, though there were constant challenges to her right to the throne. During her tenure, she restored Protestantism in England, took on the Spanish Armada – and won! – and put England on the map as a major European power, all while wearing this get-up.
Question 60
What famous philosopher wrote the words: "I think; therefore, I am"?
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AFrancis Bacon
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BRené Descartes
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CFranz Kafka
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DAntonio Serra
René Descartes
René Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician, showing the world what it means to exist: “I think; therefore I am.” Descartes studied applied mathematics, grasping the natural world through logic. Taking this logic to the roots of nature, Descartes found the base of knowledge and existence in this simple, yet explosive, observation.
Question 61
This philosopher's “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” is one of the founding pieces of Enlightenment.
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AFyodor Dostoevsky
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BJohn Locke
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CJames Beattie
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DThomas Abbt
John Locke
John Locke was another great thinker who built the foundation for the movement. His philosophy and political theory invoked liberalism and empirical thinking, seeing government as a protector of "life, liberty, and estate" – an idea that prevailed in the founding of the United States. Moreover, in his “Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” Locke advocates for nurture over nature, describing humans as a blank slate, with identity and knowledge brought forth by experience.
Question 62
The noblemen ran her out of the country, where she was later beheaded. Name that ostracized queen.
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AMarsha, Queen of Narnia
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BElizabeth I
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CMary Antoinette
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DMary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, didn't like to play by the rules...but that eventually caught up with her. After some strange choices in life and love (including marrying the man who murdered her husband), she fled to England in exile. Her claims to the English throne – then held by her cousin Elizabeth I – led to her death by beheading.
Question 63
Although Leonardo Da Vinci was well-known as a painter, sketches he made in the 15th century were a precursor to the invention of which aircraft?
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AAeroplane
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BHang-glider
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CBi-plane
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DHelicopter
Helicopter
Leonardo da Vinci's 15th century "Helical Air Screw" bore a strong resemblance in construction and proposed operation to modern helicopters.
Question 64
This Italian friar and influential thinker was a revolutionary theologian. Who is this saint?
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ASaint Thomas Aquinas
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BSaint Augustine
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CSaint Nicholas
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DSaint Paul
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Saint Thomas Aquinas was a theologian and a philosopher of the 13th century. Combining reason with faith, he was a prolific writer and scholastic genius of the Catholic Church. One of his most revolutionary thoughts involved criticism of those theories which claimed that faith stood in opposition to reason. Instead, he believed faith could guide reason and, conversely, reason could demystify faith.
Question 65
Laszlo Biro was a Hungarian-Argentinian inventor. He is credited with the creation of which common stationery item?
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ABallpoint Pen
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BPaper Clip
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CPost-it note
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DStapler
Ballpoint Pen
Laszlo Biro's ballpoint pen was borne of a desire for a pen with ink that dried quickly, unlike the fountain pens of the time.
Question 66
You might meet this beatnik writer "on the road". Name that pioneer of the Beat Generation.
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AWalt Whitman
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BAllen Ginsberg
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CWilliam Shakespeare
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DJack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Famed for his free-wheelin' Beat Generation lifestyle, Jack Kerouac's <i>On the Road</i> was a masterpiece of spontaneity. "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars." Interestingly enough, the literary iconoclast wrote out his epic on a scroll. Sounds pretty Beat to me.
Question 67
Shaping the humanist movement in Northern Europe, this great thinker translated the New Testament to Greek.
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ADesiderius Erasmus
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BSigmund Freud
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CRobert Boyle
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DThomas More
Desiderius Erasmus
Northern Europe's foray into the Renaissance movement was dominated by Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam. The scholar calmed the more extreme views of the Reformation, and his Greek translation of the New Testament revolutionized "Christian Humanism", blending classical traditions with Christian beliefs and the humanist idea of a man's capacity for self-improvement.
Question 68
This poet, journalist, and essayist is known as the "father of free verse." Name that humanist.
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AHenry David Thoreau
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BWilliam Wordsworth
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CWalt Whitman
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DRobert Frost
Walt Whitman
"I celebrate myself and sing myself, and what I assume, you shall assume, because whatever atom belongs to me as good belongs to you." The 19th century American poet, journalist, and essayist, Walt Whitman, certainly had a feather in his cap. The flair of <i>Leaves of Grass</i>, which championed freeverse, is a love letter to nature and humanity. The "father of free verse" knew how to kick it.
Question 69
Establishing the principle of intuitionism, this philosopher was also a mathematician with a law named after him.
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ABlaise Pascal
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BJohannes Kepler
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CSocrates
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DRobert Recorde
Blaise Pascal
You may have heard of Pascal's principle of pressure. You may have also heard of Pascal's triangle. Both are named after French mathematician, Blaise Pascal, who paved the way for the modern theory of probabilities. He also dabbled in religious doctrine and philosophy, as Renaissance Men will do.
Question 70
Who is this British chemist and physicist who first identified carbon dioxide?
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AFriedrich Schiller
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BJoseph Black
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CDavid Beckham
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DAlexander Sumarokov
Joseph Black
British chemist and physicist, Joseph Black, identified carbon dioxide – or, as he termed it, “fixed air”. He also discovered bicarbonates and the concept of latent heat, which, as defined by Oxford Dictionary, is "the heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapor, or a liquid into a vapor, without change of temperature." Great minds think alike apparently, as Black had some Enlightenment besties, amongst them economist Adam Smith, and philosopher David Hume.
Question 71
“Reason is...the slave of the passions," wrote this Scottish philosopher.
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AMel Gibson
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BJames Boswell
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CDavid Hume
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DAnders Chydenius
David Hume
"Reason is, and ought only to be, the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them." Hume's eloquent and philosophical prose marked his legacy in the Enlightenment.
Question 72
Another "founding father," this leader led the American Revolution to victory. Name that military leader.
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AGeorge Carver
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BGeorge Washington
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CGeorge Clooney
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DKing George VI
George Washington
“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism," George Washington warned. As one of our favorite founding fathers and the first president of the United States, George Washington's patriotism was not pretend. Washington led the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, serving as general of the colonial armies. And after the war, he and his buddies threw together a little thing known as the U.S. Constitution. He even signed it.
Comments (18)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.
Was a challenge at times
97%... 70 out of 72
As a foreigner I‘m glad to pass this test with 74%, because a lot of it is American history.
83% AIN'T BAD I THINK.
I thought this was a IQ test? I dont think they give "A's" in them.
Rather enjoyable passing time and learning a little history.
Sad you are not giving me my result
I did give my evaluation
@pvascell what is my result?
very hard and interesting and I enjoyed the challenge
very hard and interesting
Its a good exercise for the brain makes you think and then second guess yourself. Need to read some more.
Wore* me down…..
It was so long it war me down and I stopped caring if i was right, just wanted it to end, got sloppy,
I got an A but I can't seem to share it.
Im dummer than i thought!
I got an 88 and I am legit bothered I didn't get an A+. Some things never change.
very educational and informative