Do You Know 20th Century History? Take This Quiz And See What You Remember About The Recent Past!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 23 min play time
While it may not have ended all that long ago in the grand scheme of things, the 20th century was packed full of historical moments. Some day, there might even be a whole college course on this period. Take this quiz and see what you know about the 20th century!
Quiz written by
Daniel Rackley20th Century History Quiz Questions
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Question 1
This popular movie, based on a novel, starred Judy Garland, used Technicolor, and was nominated for six Academy Awards.
-
AThe Wizard of Oz
-
BIt Happened One Night
-
CGone with the Wind
-
DKing Kong
The Wizard of Oz
This was the first movie made with Technicolor. Named the most viewed movie on television.
Question 2
The Cleaver family became a household name in the late 1950s as part of what popular television show that presented an idealized version of American life in the 1950s?
-
ABonanza
-
BLeave it to Beaver
-
CThe Honeymooners
-
DDragnet
Leave it to Beaver
A very tame version of suburban life (the idealized American, middle-class lifestyle), is what's portrayed in 'Leave it to Beaver'. It's important to remember that this particular television show showcases a quixotic version of American life. It also does not include those living in destitution, or the lives of people of color at that particular time.
Question 3
Rock music changed mainstream sounds and gained popularity among American youths. What British rock band performed for American audiences for the first time in 1964 on the Ed Sullivan Show?
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ALed Zeppelin
-
BThe Rolling Stones
-
CThe Beatles
-
DThe Who
The Beatles
Rock emerged in the 1950s in the US, but gained popularity in the 1960s. Consumer culture/television helped its growth. The Beatles brought quick, simple, yet "risky" music into the homes of young American consumers. During their Ed Sullivan show performance, they started out with "All My Loving" and ended with "I Want to Hold Your Hand".
Question 4
Who were the first two astronauts to walk on the moon?
-
AEugene Cernan and Pete Conrad
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BNeil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
-
CSally Ride and Michael Collins
-
DJim Lovell and Fred Haise
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two men to walk on the surface of the moon.
Question 5
She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, was canonized as a saint in 2016, and spent her life helping the poor. What is the name of this Catholic nun who passed away in 1997?
-
AMother Angelica
-
BMother Elizabeth
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CMother Teresa
-
DMother Katherine
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was championed for her charitable work but was also criticized by some for her stance on certain issues.
Question 6
Ron, Harry, and Hermoine study witchcraft and wizardry at Hogwarts in these famous books. What is the name of the series that was first published in 1997?
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AThe Chronicles of Narnia
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BHarry Potter
-
CMadeline
-
DA Series of Unfortunate Events
Harry Potter
The stories of Harry Potter instantly became a popular book series for children around the world. They are the best selling book series in history and have been translated into 73 languages. The books inspired the creation of movies, theme parks, and spinoff book series' as well.
Question 7
In 1963, who became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film 'Lilies of the Field'?
-
ALouis Gossett, Jr.
-
BSidney Poitier
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CCharles Dutton
-
DBilly Dee Williams
Sidney Poitier
Poitier is an acclaimed actor who worked odd jobs to make ends meet while learning how to act. He helped disrupt the color-barrier in the film industry. Later in life, he became the Bahamian Ambassador to Japan!
Question 8
Popular musicians, comedians, and entertainers like Frank Sinatra performed regularly on entertainment and news programs that millions of Americans "tuned" into using what device?
-
ARadio
-
BWalkie Talkie
-
CVCR
-
DWalkman
Radio
The 1930s and 1940s are sometimes referred to as the Golden Age of Radio. This broadcast medium enjoyed immense popularity up until the 1950s when television superseded it.
Question 9
The Cuban Revolution was a revolt against the authoritarian regime of Fulgencio Batista led by what political leader?
-
ARomulo Gallegos
-
BDaniel Ortega
-
CFidel Castro
-
DSalvador Allende
Fidel Castro
The revolution took years and was fought by the 26th of July Movement led by Castro. Cuba became a revolutionary socialist state following the removal of US-backed dictator, Batista. This changed the relationship with the US. (Note that Batista limited civil liberties. Under Batista, economic disparities increased).
Question 10
What iconic music and pop culture magazine was founded in San Francisco in 1967?
-
ARolling Stone
-
BThe Atlantic
-
CThe New Yorker
-
DEntertainment Weekly
Rolling Stone
The magazine was used in the 1960s through the 1970s to cover not only music, but politics at the time. Its name is said to have been inspired by a Bob Dylan song.
Question 11
The US government, as allowed by Executive Order 9066, removed what particular group of Americans and immigrants from their homes, neighborhoods, and work, forcing them to relocate to internment camps until after World War II ended?
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AJapanese Americans
-
BRussian Americans
-
CAfrican Americans
-
DNative Americans
Japanese Americans
In the landmark Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States, 1944, the Court sided with the US government stating that the executive order that interned Japanese Americans was constitutional, regardless of their citizenship.
Question 12
Before he changed it to Muhammad Ali, by what name was the World Heavyweight Boxing champion known?
-
ACassius Clay
-
BSugar Ray Leonard
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CJoe Louis
-
DSugar Ray Robinson
Cassius Clay
Ali was a talented and famous boxer. He refused to go to the war in Vietnam due to his religious beliefs and his opposition to the war in general. He was stripped of his titles and arrested for draft evasion, but he successfully appealed this decision in 1971 to the Supreme Court. He was a cultural and sports icon.
Question 13
What popular fashion doll was created in 1959 by Mattel, Inc.?
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APolly Pocket
-
BCabbage Patch
-
CBarbie
-
DAmerican Girl
Barbie
Barbie is the most profitable line of toys ever created. To date, Mattel has sold over 1 billion Barbie Dolls.
Question 14
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald while traveling in the presidential motorcade in what state?
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AAlabama
-
BOklahoma
-
CArkansas
-
DTexas
Texas
The Kennedys were accompanied by the Texas governor and his wife. JFK and the governor were both shot, Kennedy fatally. JFK was declared dead thirty minutes later. Shortly after, Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as president of the United States.
Question 15
Nancy Kerrigan won the silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer after being attacked by her rival skater ________, who hired someone to hurt her with a police baton.
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ATara Lipinski
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BMichelle Kwan
-
CTonya Harding
-
DSarah Hughes
Tonya Harding
Harding was a two-time Olympian but was banned for life from the US Figure Skating Association following the incident.
Question 16
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in what famous 1942 romantic film?
-
AIt's a Wonderful Life
-
BCasablanca
-
CCitizen Kane
-
DGone With the Wind
Casablanca
Casablanca is a romantic movie set during WWII. It won 3 Academy Awards including for Best Picture, and is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time. I was based on the unproduced stage play 'Everybody Comes to Rick's'.
Question 17
Disco emerged as a popular genre of dance music in the late 1970s following the success of what film that starred actor John Travolta?
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ASaturday Night Fever
-
BDirty Dancing
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CCan't Stop the Music
-
DXanadu
Saturday Night Fever
Disco was a reaction to Rock and the counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s. It was embraced by people of color, men and women, as well as the gay community in major cities. Disco was danced to at discotheques. Like other music genres, disco is often associated with promiscuous dancing and drug use.
Question 18
Actor Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for Best Actor in this 1994 comedy-drama that follows the life of a southern American boy through many important moments during the twentieth century.
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APulp Fiction
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BSleepless in Seattle
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CForrest Gump
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DThe Sandlot
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump was based on a novel of the same name. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1995.
Question 19
What popular comedic sketch show began in 1975 and introduced such famous cast members as Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, and Gilda Radner?
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AThe Kids in the Hall
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BSaturday Night Live
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CMADtv
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DIn Living Color
Saturday Night Live
'SNL' pokes fun at current political and cultural issues. It is filmed in New York City and is the starting place for many popular comedy movie stars.
Question 20
After years of working to find a cure, scientists developed the first successful vaccination for what disease in 1952?
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ADiphtheria
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BPolio
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CChickenpox
-
DTetanus
Polio
After being developed by Jonas Salk and a team at the University of Pittsburgh, the vaccine became widely used in 1955 and reduced the number of reported cases each year from 350,000 in 1988 to 33 in 2018.
Question 21
What law provided benefits like low-cost mortgages and tuition assistance to American soldiers returning home after World War II? Many historians argue that this law, though helpful to most, excluded many black veterans.
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AThe Lend-Lease Act
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BManpower Development and Training Act
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CThe G.I. Bill
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DFamily Support Act
The G.I. Bill
Officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the G.I. Bill was signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944. Though helpful to white vets, the bill was affected by Jim Crow laws, especially in the south.
Question 22
Riots erupted in downtown Los Angeles after the acquittal of LA police officers who were videotaped beating ______ following a high-speed chase. The events opened a discussion about race and police brutality in America in the 1990s.
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AMichael Brown
-
BEric Garner
-
CMartin Luther King
-
DRodney King
Rodney King
Following the acquittal of the officers, riots erupted. More than 50 people died and there was $1 billion in property damage as a result. The jury for King's trial was predominantly white and had no black members. Not until a year later were two African Americans added to the jury. Black Americans were frustrated with police brutality and the use of excessive force. This is still an important issue that affects our nation.
Question 23
Michael Jackson, also known as the King of Pop, produced hit song after hit song. What is the name of his creepy 1984 tune that included sounds of creaking doors, howling dogs, and lines like "It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark"?
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A"Bad"
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B"The Way You Make me Feel"
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C"Beat It"
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D"Thriller"
"Thriller"
Jackson's "Thriller" was produced by Quincy Jones. The album Thriller is the world's best selling album of all time.
Question 24
What water resistant adhesive was invented and used during World War II as a useful way to repair weapons and other devices?
-
AGorilla Glue
-
BDuct Tape
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CSticky Tack
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DScotch Tape
Duct Tape
Duct tape was created by Johnson and Johnson and was used by soldiers to help keep things water resistant while fighting overseas. It is one of the most versatile materials around today.
Question 25
This medical contraption was first used for clinical purposes in 1928 on patients suffering from polio:
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AIron Lung
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BNebulizer
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CBack Brace
-
DLeg Crutches
Iron Lung
Patients were put inside the iron lung, which acted as a ventilation system, to compress and depress the chest, simulating natural breathing patterns.
Question 26
This parade is the largest parade in the world and first started in the fall of 1924.
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ASt. Patrick's Day Parade, Dublin
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BThe Philadelphia Mummers Parade, Pennsylvania
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CMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC
-
DDia De Los Muertos Parade, Mexico
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC
This parade is frequented by millions of Americans every Thanksgiving in NYC.
Question 27
What famous sky scraper was completed in 1931?
-
AJohn Hancock Tower
-
BShanghai Tower
-
CChrysler Building
-
DEmpire State Building
Empire State Building
Designed in Art Deco style. The Empire State Building was thwarted at the tallest building in NY after the creation of the The World Trade Centers. (Changed in 2001).
Question 28
John Paul II became Pope in 1978. He was the first non-Italian Pope in over 400 years. In what country was he born?
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AGermany
-
BPoland
-
CLithuania
-
DHungary
Poland
"JPII" was the second longest serving Pope in history. He was also well-traveled, having visited 129 countries. His canonization was held in 2014 after his resignation in 2005.
Question 29
American writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wrote this work, which was published in 1925. The book became popular following Fitzgerald's death during the WWII era.
-
AThe Great Gatsby
-
BThe Sound and the Fury
-
CUlysses
-
DThe Stranger
The Great Gatsby
A popular book that showcases the extravegent and expensive life of many people during the Roaring 20s.
Question 30
Despite a Congressional ban, President Ronald Reagan's administration sold arms to Iran in exchange for hostages while feeding money to the anti-communist militant group, the ______, who opposed the socialist coalition government developed by the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
-
AContras
-
BAllendes
-
CPinochet
-
DSomozas
Contras
Covert activities to fund the Contras and the arms sale to Iran happened, according to the Reagan administration, in the name of democracy, despite the disapproval of Congress. Only 14% of Americans believed Reagan when he denied that the sale of weapons was for hostages. His image suffered due to the scandal, but he still ended his presidency with high approval ratings.
Question 31
What company was essential to the American air force as it created both the B-17 and B-29 bombers? To avoid potential attacks, this company disguised its manufacturing plants with farmland.
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AGeneral Motors
-
BGeneral Electric
-
CBoeing
-
DDuPont
Boeing
Boeing was established in the early 20th century in Seattle. The company was essential to the US air force efforts in WWII and has since created commercial aircraft, as well as aerospace products.
Question 32
The Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik into space in 1957. The US government feared trailing the Russians in what was called the Space Race. As a result, the US government formed what agency in 1958?
-
ANational Security Agency (NSA)
-
BCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA)
-
CDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS)
-
DNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The US was not only competing with the Soviet Union on land but in space. The two nations were competing for global influence and power. This included a space/technological race, as well as a massive increase in nuclear weaponry.
Question 33
The Japanese bombed the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in 1941, causing the US to officially enter World War II. In an address to the nation, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated that this was a "date which will live in infamy". What was that date?
-
AJuly 7th
-
BJune 13th
-
CDecember 7th
-
DNovember 7th
December 7th
The bombings of Pearl Harbor brought the US into the war, but the US had been helping the Allied powers since the war's outbreak in 1939. The US sold arms to France and Britain and sent aid via the Lend-Lease Act.
Question 34
This device became a popular source for news and entertainment for Americans following World War One:
-
AVideo
-
BNewspaper
-
CTelevision
-
DRadio
Radio
The radio was used during WWI. After WWI, the radio became popular and accessible to American consumers. TV would be next.
Question 35
Organized crime spread during the era of Prohibition. What is the name of the infamous struggle between an Irish and Italian gang in Chicago that resulted in the deaths of seven by gangster Al Capone and the South Side Italian gang?
-
ARosewood Massacre
-
BLudlow Massacre
-
CSaturday Night Massacre
-
DSt. Valentine's Day Massacre
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Gang violence was high during the 1920s as a result of Prohibition and the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol. Al Capone was a well-known gangster in charge of this distribution, as well as drugs, in Chicago.
Question 36
What president signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an act that banned discrimination based on race, sex, religion, or national origin?
-
AHarry Truman
-
BJohn F. Kennedy
-
CLyndon Johnson
-
DWoodrow Wilson
Lyndon Johnson
LBJ was more involved with the civil rights movement than his predecessor, Kennedy. He worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists on developing the Civil Rights Act and later the Voting Rights Act. (Of course, like all presidents, LBJ was flawed, but he did use his presidency to expand the rights of people of color, women, and others during the 1960s).
Question 37
What was the name given to the top secret US atomic weapons development program?
-
AThe Manhattan Project
-
BThe Brooklyn Project
-
CThe Chicago Project
-
DThe Oppenheimer Project
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a nuclear research and development project that resulted in the creation of nuclear weapons. It was led by Robert Oppenheimer and was supported by the British and Canadian governments. The first two bombs were used on Japan, but the US continued to test bombs - during Operation Crossroads, as well as the underwater, on land, and above ground testing on Bikini Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands.
Question 38
This pop star became famous in the late 1990s for her hits including "Baby One More Time" and "Oops I Did It Again."
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AChristina Aguilera
-
BMandy Moore
-
CBrandy
-
DBritney Spears
Britney Spears
Spears is known as the "Princess of Pop" and is widely considered a pop icon. She's one of the reasons for teen band popularity in the '90s.
Question 39
Named after a senator from Wisconsin, what is the name of the practice of making false accusations, spreading the fear of communism, and intensifying public censorship?
-
AConservatism
-
BTranscendentalism
-
CMcCarthyism
-
DAnarchism
McCarthyism
Joseph McCarthy's claim that he had a list of communists in the government, though not proven, occurred during the Korean War. Fear of communism at that time earned the Senator popularity amongst the people and the hawks in Washington. McCarthy's popularity all but disappeared, however, following his challenge to the US Army in 1954. He died three years later, having lost most of his popularity and influence.
Question 40
Actor Marlon Brando won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973 for what movie, based on a novel written by Mario Puzo?
-
AGoodfellas
-
BCasino
-
CScarface
-
DThe Godfather
The Godfather
'The Godfather' was the highest grossing film in 1972 and won the Oscar for Best Picture that year. It's an American crime classic.
Question 41
What is the name of the cultural icon most closely associated with women factory and naval yard workers during World War II?
-
AMother Goose
-
BWonder Woman
-
CLady Liberty
-
DRosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter
Thousands of women worked in factories during WWII as men fought overseas. Rosie posters highlighted the capabilities of women workers. The US government (as well as Allied governments) created similar posters to encourage women to join the workforce at this particular time. Women were responsible for creating weapons and aircrafts, products that were essential to the war effort. Many women remained in the workforce following the end of the war.
Question 42
This waterway connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is essential to maritime trade. In 1904 under President Theodore Roosevelt, the United States took control over the waterway's development. It was officially finished in 1914. What is the name of this waterway?
-
AWelland
-
BSuez
-
CErie Canal
-
DPanama Canal
Panama Canal
The US controlled the Panama Canal from 1914 to 1979. Control of the area officially passed to the Republic of Panama in 1999. The canal is used most for maritime trade between the United States and East Asian nations.
Question 43
The original ______ comic was sold in the United States in 1938. This particular issue sold for $3.2 million in 2014.
-
ABatman
-
BHulk
-
CX-Men
-
DSuperman
Superman
Superman is one of the most popular comic book characters ever created.
Question 44
What soulful tune, originally recorded by musician Big Mama Thornton, was released in 1956 by Elvis Presley? It became his best-selling song and helped him earn the title of "King of Rock and Roll".
-
AGreat Balls of Fire
-
BJohnny B. Goode
-
CPeggy Sue
-
DHound Dog
Hound Dog
Elvis's live performance of "Hound Dog" in 1956 was not applauded by most Americans. Many argued that Elvis was an oversexed, talentless musician. This performance was used in the 1994 film 'Forrest Gump'.
Question 45
What government declared martial law in Tiananmen Square against protesters in favor of freedom of press, speech, and democracy?
-
AGovernment of China
-
BGovernment of India
-
CGovernment of Singapore
-
DGovernment of Japan
Government of China
Protestors stayed for weeks in the square before troops moved in on civilians. It's estimated that several hundred to a thousand protesters were killed and as many as 10,000 were arrested. The protest was directly against Chinese Communist rulers.
Question 46
What is the name of the table-top role playing game that drew opposition from religious fundamentalist groups who argued that the game used witchcraft, demonology, sadism, and more?
-
AFinal Fantasy
-
BZelda
-
CDungeons and Dragons
-
DWorld of Warcraft
Dungeons and Dragons
D&D is often credited with the birth of modern role playing games.
Question 47
What shuttle orbiter exploded on take-off on January 28, 1986?
-
AApollo
-
BChallenger
-
CColumbia
-
DAtlantis
Challenger
All seven astronauts and a schoolteacher onboard died in the accident. The accident was caused by the failure of two rubber O-rings as a result of low temperatures during take off.
Question 48
Four college students were killed and nine others wounded by the Ohio National Guard while protesting the Vietnam War in 1970. At what school did the protests occur?
-
AOhio State University
-
BKent State University
-
CCleveland State University
-
DMiami University of Ohio
Kent State University
The US invaded Cambodia in 1970, despite Nixon campaigning on a platform to bring the war to an end. Protests occurred on several college campuses as a result. Protests on Kent State's campus occurred for days. The ROTC building on campus was burnt down, but most of the protesters were fairly peaceful. On May 4, while trying to disperse protestors on the campus, 28 out of 70+ guards suddenly shot their weapons, some into the crowd of students. The guardsmen said that they were in fear for their lives, but there was no clear order to shoot. Moreover, others argue that the guardsmens' lives weren't in danger.
Question 49
Which famous Belfast made ship sank between April 14 and 15, 1912?
-
ATitanic
-
BBritannic
-
CLusitania
-
DCarpathia
Titanic
The Titanic was a British passenger ship that sank in the Atlantic after colliding with an iceberg while traveling to New York City from the UK.
Question 50
Two atomic bombs named Little Boy and Fat Man were dropped in Japan, killing thousands of people instantly, and leaving many with radiation poisoning. This act by the US government led to the end of World War II. What two cities were devastated by the dropping of these two weapons?
-
AKyoto and Tokyo
-
BNagasaki and Tokyo
-
CHiroshima and Tokyo
-
DHiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The US dropped the first bomb on August 6, 1945 on Hiroshima. The blast killed 80,000 people immediately. The US dropped the second bomb on 3 days later on Nagasaki, killing 40,000. Japan surrendered shortly after. Historians debate whether using the bombs was necessary to end the war based on how damaging and devastating they were. Some, however, argue that the bombs probably saved Japanese and American hundreds of thousands of lives if the war had continued.
Question 51
What popular amusement park opened its doors in Anaheim, California in 1955?
-
ADisneyland
-
BDisneyworld
-
CSix Flags
-
DHersheypark
Disneyland
Many amusement parks were built at the edge of cities, along public transportation lines. Disneyland was among them. This trend continued throughout the latter half of the 20th century.
Question 52
What piece of fiction, published in 1939, won author John Steinbeck the National Book Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and later a Nobel Prize:
-
ANineteen Eighty-Four
-
BA Tree Grows in Brooklyn
-
CThe Grapes of Wrath
-
DThe Catcher in the Rye
The Grapes of Wrath
This book is about a family traveling in the Mid-west of the US during the Depression who are then trapped in the Dust Bowl, a period of severe dust storms and damaged agriculture. It showcases the hardships millions witnessed during the 1930s.
Question 53
This synthetic polymer has been used to create ropes, tires, carpets, clothing, food packaging and much more. It was created by the DuPont industrial company in the 1930s, and was showcased at the World Fair in New York in 1939.
-
AAramid
-
BNylon
-
CSpandex
-
DRayon
Nylon
Nylon has various uses. After its invention in the 1930s, it was used during WWII as a replacement for silk in parachutes.
Question 54
In 1925, a teacher was convicted and fined for teaching evolution at a school in Tennessee. What is the name given to this highly publicized case that showcased the differences between fundamentalist and modern views of American values?
-
AThe State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
-
BTexas v. Johnson
-
CGideon v. Wainwright
-
DMcCulloch v. Maryland
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
Not until the 1960s was evolution put into school books following this trial. This trial also drew prominent Christian and former presidential nominee, William Jennings Bryan, to the case as prosecutor.
Question 55
Which of these popular comic book characters first appeared in 1941?
-
ASuperman
-
BCaptain America
-
CBatman
-
DIron Man
Captain America
Captain America is a WWII superhero cartoon. He often fought Nazis and later became a part of Marvel's Avengers.
Question 56
1975's blockbuster thriller 'Jaws' is considered one of the best movies ever made. Who directed this hugely successful film?
-
ARidley Scott
-
BSteven Spielberg
-
CJames Cameron
-
DGeorge Lucas
Steven Spielberg
The movie helped make summer a season for major movie openers. It also won three Academy Awards. Reduced beach attendance was attributed to the movie. 'Jaws' made Spielberg a household name.
Question 57
This talented athlete was known for his ability to dunk from the free-throw line.
-
AMichael Jordan
-
BLebron James
-
CLarry Bird
-
DMagic Johnson
Michael Jordan
MJ is arguably one of the best NBA players of all time. He earned numerous awards during his career.
Question 58
Which US president gave the orders to drop the atomic bombs in 1945?
-
AHarry Truman
-
BDwight D. Eisenhower
-
CFranklin Delano Roosevelt
-
DDouglas MacArthur
Harry Truman
Truman did not know about the bombs until he became president following FDR's death. His decision to use them is one of the most controversial and debated in modern military history.
Question 59
What country was divided at the 38th parallel with opposing ideologies emerging on either side of the demarcation, causing one of the first major "hot wars" fought during the Cold War?
-
AVietnam War
-
BAfghanistan War
-
CJapanese War
-
DKorean War
Korean War
Korea was divided in two (North and South) after the Japanese surrendered at the end of WWII. (Korea had been under Japanese control during the war). The Republic of Korea (South Korea under US influence) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea under the Soviet Union's influence) formed the country. Despite the war, Korea is still split today. North Korea wants the country to unify as a communist state.
Question 60
This peace treaty was signed in June of 1919, ending World War I.
-
ATreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
-
BTreaty of Versailles
-
CTreaty of Paris
-
DTreaty of Ghent
Treaty of Versailles
This Treaty is significant, particularly because it established a War Guilt clause, which forced war-torn Germany to not only accept responsibility for the war, but also to pay reparations, deindustrialize and disarm. The Treaty of Versailles helped give rise to extremism in Germany, and sowed the seeds of the Second World War.
Question 61
What boxer lost part of his ear while fighting Mike Tyson in a heavyweight title fight at the MGM Grand in 1997?
-
AFloyd Mayweather
-
BOscar De La Hoya
-
CManny Pacquiao
-
DEvander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield
The boxing match turned ugly when Tyson bit part of Holyfield's ear off during the fight.
Question 62
France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany in 1939 after Nazi Germany invaded what country, starting the Second World War?
-
AFrance
-
BFinland
-
CPoland
-
DRomania
Poland
The Nazis believed in a racial hierarchy. Poles were considered racially inferior to the Germans. Hitler argued in favor of lebensraum, policies and practices that argued that racially inferior people needed to be removed (Polish, Slavic, Russian, etc), for the development of racially superior races (Germans).
Question 63
The first Super Bowl was held in January of 1967. What team won the first ever Super Bowl?
-
AGreen Bay Packers
-
BNew England Patriots
-
CClevland Browns
-
DMinnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers
The first Super Bowl was the result of a conflict between the NFL and a competing league that emerged, the AFL. The leagues decided to merge in 1966 and a championship game between the two sects was established.
Question 64
Which of these countries officially declared their independence in 1948?
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AIran
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BIreland
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CIsrael
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DItaly
Israel
The British empire took control of Palestine following WWI after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The British government issued the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which explained the empire's goal to support the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. Truman recognized the state of Israel the same day it was established (May 14, 1948). This is an unstable area, as people of Israeli and Palestinian descent both call this area their homeland. Historians write about Palestinian diaspora, or the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians as a result of the creation of this homeland. Historians also discuss the violence back and forth between Israelis and Palestinians.
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