Step Back Into Class And Get 100% On This High School History Quiz!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 36 min play time
Way back in high school, we all had to take a history class at some point. That class, or classes, outlined everything that had happened before we came along. It told us why things were the way they are. Take this quiz and see what you know about these days gone by!
Quiz written by
Daniel RackleyHigh School History Quiz Questions
100 Questions · 338.4K Plays · 342 Comments
Question 1
Who is this pictured iconic figure?
-
AAlbert Einstein
-
BSigmund Freud
-
CThomas Edison
-
DFranklin D. Roosevelt
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a famous theoretical physicist, who developed the theory of relativity. In 1999, 'Time Magazine' named Einstein the Person of the Century for his role in revolutionizing physics and generally popularizing science.
Question 2
Lincoln is known as one of the most eloquent presidents in U.S. history. What did Lincoln's "Emancipation Proclamation" do?
-
ADeclared freedom for slaves
-
BDeclared war
-
CDeclared unity in the United States
-
DDeclared the need for speed
Declared freedom for slaves
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that became known as the "Emancipation Proclamation". This was nearly three years into the war. Lincoln used the speech to proclaim "that all persons held as slaves" within the states that had seceded "are, and henceforward shall be free." It was this statement that inspired many to fight for freedom, including black men who, until then, had not been accepted into the Union army.
Question 3
This was the site of both a massacre and a tea party in the growing rebellion. Name that city.
-
AProvidence
-
BBoston
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CSalt Lake City
-
DNew York City
Boston
In 1770, the Redcoats opened fire on a colonial mob and killed five in what is now known as the Boston Massacre. After the Tea Act, Bostonians had their revenge when they snuck onto British ships and threw 342 chests of tea overboard into Boston Harbor. That's one way to have a Tea Party.
Question 4
Which historical figure is in this picture?
-
AChristopher Marlowe
-
BThomas Middleton
-
CEuripides
-
DWilliam Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
Known as the "Bard of Avon", William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of all time. With such works as 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Hamlet', and 'Macbeth', Shakespeare has influenced nearly every English-speaking writer that has come after him.
Question 5
Although Henry Ford didn't invent the assembly line, he pioneered its use in the production of which form of transport?
-
ABikes
-
BBoats
-
CTrains
-
DCars
Cars
The assembly line for mass production of automobiles was first installed on December 1, 1913.
Question 6
Can you name this pictured historical figure?
-
ANelson Mandela
-
BMorgan Freeman
-
CMartin Luther King, Jr.
-
DMohandas Gandhi
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a revolutionary anti-apartheid activist and politician during the late 20th century. After some of his revolutionary actions, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. After serving 27 years of his sentence, President F. W. de Klerk released him in 1990 and he went on to become South Africa's first black president.
Question 7
Who is this pictured American historical figure?
-
ABenjamin Franklin
-
BAlexander Hamilton
-
CRobert E. Lee
-
DJohn Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin helped to found the United States of America through his great intelligence and foreign policy. As minister to France, Franklin helped convince them to take the side of the states during the American Revolution and assisted in winning the war. He also invented bifocals and the lightning rod.
Question 8
Who is this pictured famous historical figure?
-
AJohn F. Kennedy
-
BBill Clinton
-
CFranklin D. Roosevelt
-
DRonald Reagan
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to be the 32nd president of the United States and he helped lead the country through the first part of World War II. During his time as POTUS, he also helped bring the country out of the Great Depression with his New Deal policies. He was elected for 4 terms as president before term limits for the office were instituted.
Question 9
Which historical figure is in this pictured?
-
AEdgar Allan Poe
-
BRichard Nixon
-
CJimmy Carter
-
DRonald Reagan
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon was elected the 37th president of the United States for two terms but resigned in his second term under threat of impeachment.
Question 10
When British troops came to seize arms in Boston in 1775, who famously sounded the alarm?
-
AAlexander Hamilton
-
BJohn Adams
-
CPaul Revere
-
DWill Ferrell
Paul Revere
"The British are coming! The British are coming!" Paul Revere sounded the alarm as hundreds of Redcoats marched toward Concord to take the arms cache there on the night of April 18, 1775. The next day would kick off the first battle of the war.
Question 11
The Wright brothers pioneered aviation and changed the world. What were their first names?
-
ASamuel and Hubert
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BJames and Herbert
-
COrville and Wilbur
-
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 12
Before World War Two, World War One was known as what?
-
AThe Serbian Conflict
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BThe Great War
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CThe Gas War
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DThe Balkan War
The Great War
The Great War, at that time the deadliest war in modern European history, eradicated populations and used new weapons of mass killing.
Question 13
The United States and the Soviet Union, formerly allies in World War Two, faced conflict in the next several decades. What was the name of this conflict?
-
ACuban Missile Crisis
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BThirty Years' War
-
CCold War
-
DRussian Revolution
Cold War
The Cold War was "fought" between the two global superpowers after World War Two, the United States and the Soviet Union. It pitted American capitalist democracy and Soviet Communism against each other. Although the two powers did not directly fight, they engaged in a number of proxy wars until the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991.
Question 14
Which man's name became synonymous with "traitor" after he spied for the British?
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APaul Revere
-
BBenedict Arnold
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CJohn Burgoyne
-
DJohn Adams
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold wasn't always a traitor. In fact, at the start of the war, he was a hero, playing a leading role in capturing Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. He decided to turn turncoat, defecting to the British in 1780, marking his legacy of treason in infamy.
Question 15
Daniel Boone is a pioneer and frontiersman famous for settling which American state?
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AKentucky
-
BVirginia
-
CMassachusetts
-
DVermont
Kentucky
In 1769, Daniel Boone settled an area he named Boonesborough, in the region that now comprises Kentucky.
Question 16
Benjamin Franklin had an impressive CV that included titles like postmaster, politician, freemason, inventor, and diplomat. Which vision-improvement aid is he credited with inventing?
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AContact lenses
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BAnti-glare lenses
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CBifocal lenses
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DProgressive lenses
Bifocal lenses
Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1784 that he was "happy in the invention of double spectacles, which serving for distant objects as well as near ones, make my eyes as useful to me as ever they were".
Question 17
Which legendary scientist is pictured here?
-
ACharles Darwin
-
BMarie Curie
-
CDwight Eisenhower
-
DNikola Tesla
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin is probably best known today for his book 'On the Origin of Species' which outlined his studies regarding the theory of evolution. His visits to the Galapagos Islands and observations of the finches there led to his breakthrough discoveries.
Question 18
Battlefield nurse Clara Barton founded which institute as a result of the Civil War, which is still going strong today?
-
AGoogle
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BUNICEF
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CSalvation Army
-
DAmerican Red Cross
American Red Cross
Did you know the American Red Cross is a remnant of the Civil War? Nurse Clara Barton was caring for the wounded in Washington, D.C. when she discovered they were not aptly supplied to address soldiers' battle wounds. She found a way to organize supplies to reach the frontlines, where they were most needed. In fact, she often traveled to the battlefields to deliver them herself, nursing wounded soldiers back to health, resulting in her nickname, "Angel of the Battlefield". Later, she adapted an international organization, called the International Red Cross, to her home country by lobbying for four years, finally founding the American Red Cross in May of 1881.
Question 19
What international body was created at the end of World War Two to try to prevent something like world war from happening again?
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ANorth Atlantic Free Trade Organization
-
BUnited Nations
-
CEuropean Union
-
DWarsaw Pact
United Nations
The United Nations was founded on October 24, 1945, with 51 member states. It now has 195. The intention of the United Nations was to establish an international forum where grievances could be addressed without resorting to military conflict.
Question 20
Many soldiers returning from war suffered from what today we call PTSD. What was the medical term used then?
-
ATrench malaise
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BShell shock
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CWar fever
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DBrittle from battle
Shell shock
Shell shock was a term used to diagnose people after seeing the horrors of modern war. It was sometimes seen as a sign of cowardice.
Question 21
2% of the entire U.S. population died as a result of the Civil War. What was the war's bloodiest battle?
-
ASeven Days Battle
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BBattle of Gettysburg
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CBattle of Shiloh
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DOverland Campaign
Battle of Gettysburg
At 51,000 casualties, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War was Gettysburg, hands down. Chickamauga and Spotsylvania also suffered high numbers of casualties, at 34,624 and 30,000, respectively.
Question 22
Which historic document concerning slavery did President Abraham Lincoln sign on January 1, 1863?
-
AGettysburg Address
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B14th Amendment
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CEmancipation Proclamation
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DArticles of Confederation
Emancipation Proclamation
While it was a major step towards the abolition of slavery in the United States, the Emancipation Proclamation declared the freedom of only a subset of slaves: those living in the rebel states of the Confederacy. Slaves in neutral border states and in those already controlled by the Union were exempted in order to avoid conflict. The document also declared that liberated black men could now enlist in the Union Army; by the Civil War's end, nearly 200,000 black soldiers had fought for the Union and the cause of freedom.
Question 23
Which famous historical figure is in this picture?
-
AMalcolm X
-
BMartin Luther King, Jr.
-
CMichael Jordan
-
DLouis Farrakhan
Malcolm X
Malcolm X was born with the name Malcolm Little in 1925 but changed his name when he joined the Nation of Islam. During his time there, he was a civil rights activist who strongly advocated for the rights of blacks. In 1965 he was assassinated in Manhattan, New York.
Question 24
Which rockstar fronted the first female-led raid to free slaves during the Civil War?
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AJesse Freeman
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BHarriet Tubman
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CSojourner Truth
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DJohn Goodman
Harriet Tubman
Civil War hero Harriet Tubman's feats of courage didn't stop at the Underground Railroad; she also fronted a raid that freed 10 times the number of slaves she'd freed in a decade on the Underground. Over 720 slaves were delivered to freedom in a 300 black Union soldier-sneak attack, led by Tubman and Union Colonel James Montgomery. Just, wow.
Question 25
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
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BDynamite
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CGun powder
-
DHand grenades
Dynamite
Alfred Nobel mixed nitroglycerine with kieselguhr to make a paste, which he formed into rods and named dynamite.
Question 26
Legendary bandleader Duke Ellington and countless other jazz greats got their start at New York's Cotton Club. In which neighborhood would you have found the iconic club?
-
AWall Street
-
BLenox Hill
-
CHarlem
-
DSouth Bronx
Harlem
From 1922 to 1935, the Cotton Club was THE venue for black entertainersโLouis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Lena Horne, and the list goes on. An ugly irony, however, is that the performers played to white-only audiences; the Cotton Club was known as the most strictly segregated nightclub in New York.
Question 27
Who is the iconic figure pictured here?
-
AVladimir Putin
-
BJoseph Stalin
-
CGeorge W. Bush
-
DFidel Castro
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin led the Soviet Union as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1922 to 1953. During this time he initiated his "Great Purge" of political enemies which led to the deaths of nearly 1 million people. His policies are also partially responsible for the USSR's two famines of the 20th century which led to nearly 9 million additional deaths.
Question 28
The First World War ended with victory for the United States, Britain, France, and their allies. What was the name of the treaty that ended the war, and imposed enormous burdens on the losers?
-
ATreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
-
BTreaty of London
-
CTreaty of Brest-Litovsk
-
DVersailles Treaty
Versailles Treaty
The Treaty of Versailles stripped the losers of their colonies, put heavy reparations payments on Germany, and stalled its industrial buildup.
Question 29
Who is this gentleman, appointed commander of the Continental Army in 1775?
-
AThomas Jefferson
-
BSamuel Adams
-
CLin-Manuel Miranda
-
DGeorge Washington
George Washington
When things were heating up, the appointment of a commander was in order. So, on June 14, 1775, George Washington was granted leadership of the Continental Army during the Second Continental Congress. Why Washington? He was the delegate with the most military experience.
Question 30
King Louis XVI was born Louis-Auguste in 1754. Which member of Austrian Royalty did he marry in 1770?
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AMarie Antoinette
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BAnna Helena
-
CMaria Theresa
-
DElizabeth Carolina
Marie Antoinette
Louis-Auguste and Marie Antoinette married in April 1770, four years before they became the last King and Queen of France before the French Revolution.
Question 31
Mary, Queen of Scots was James V of Scotland's only surviving legitimate child. By what other name was she commonly known?
-
AMary Stuart
-
BMary Rogers
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CMary Brown
-
DMary Jones
Mary Stuart
Mary Stuart ruled as Queen of Scotland between 1542 and 1567.
Question 32
French industrialist Edouard Michelin's most famous invention was revolutionary (no pun intended!) - his name lives on to this day in a popular brand name. Which car accessory did he invent?
-
ADetachable pneumatic tires
-
BCar alarm
-
CRear vision mirror
-
DHazard lights
Detachable pneumatic tires
In making pneumatic tires that were detachable, the Michelin brothers slashed tire repair time from overnight to a mere 15 minutes.
Question 33
There was more than one assassination attempt on President Lincoln's life. An attempted assassination in 1863 left a hole through what piece of his clothing?
-
AThrough his sleeve
-
BThrough his hat
-
CThrough his boots
-
DThrough his handkerchief
Through his hat
Although most know that President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's theatre in 1865, you may not realize this wasn't the first attempt on his life. He was nearly killed two years prior to his death, but his famous top hat may have just saved him in that case, as a gunshot had knocked his hat off while he rode a horse to the Soldiers' Home from the White House. When his hat was retrieved, there was, indeed, a bullet hole through its stovepipe.
Question 34
What historical figure is in this picture?
-
AUlysses S. Grant
-
BAlbert Einstein
-
CThomas Edison
-
DRobert E. Lee
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States and led the Union army during the American Civil War. For his efforts, he was put on the $50 bill and is remembered as an excellent general. He was actually born with the first name Hiram, and the "S." in his name doesn't stand for anything.
Question 35
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?
-
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 36
Which of these is true about the infamous Tuskegee Experiment, the 40-year, secret syphilis study on 400 black men conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service?
-
AAt the study's end, 128 men had died from syphilis.
-
BThe subjects were never treated, even after a cure existed.
-
CThe subjects were told they were being treated for "bad blood."
-
DAll of the above.
All of the above.
One of the worst atrocities of 20th century America, the Tuskegee Experiment followed 400 African-American men with syphilis from 1932 to 1972 in order to study the full course of the disease. When penicillin became available as a treatment just 13 years into the study, the researchers withheld it from the men and went to great lengths to prevent them obtaining it elsewhere. A whistleblower finally exposed the experiment in 1972. Public outrage led to significant legal changes to protect human subjects of scientific studies.
Question 37
Rudolf Diesel lent his name to the mechanical device that became his most famous invention. What type of device was it?
-
AElectric battery
-
BEngine
-
CSpark plug
-
DPrinting press
Engine
Rudolf Diesel's work in engine design had the goal of a much higher efficiency ratio than steam engines.
Question 38
Jacques Cartier is noted for his exploration of inland America, and for giving Canada its name. What nationality was he?
-
ASwedish
-
BDutch
-
CSwiss
-
DFrench
French
Jacques Cartier was born in the Duchy of Brittany in 1491.
Question 39
What plantation of George Washington's was nearly destroyed by the British?
-
AWhitney Plantation
-
BMount Vernon
-
CGraceland
-
DMonticello
Mount Vernon
Anchored on the Potomac River near Washington's plantation at Mount Vernon, the Brits ordered "a large supply of provisions" be delivered by the estate. Washington's estate manager and cousin, Lund, acquiesced to their request. Washington responded to this, writing, โIt would have been a less painful circumstance to me, to have heard, that in consequence of your non-compliance with [the HMS Savageโs request], they had burnt my House, and laid the Plantation in ruins.โ
Question 40
The United States did not declare war until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. What date did this occur in 1941?
-
A6-Jun
-
B7-Dec
-
C11-Dec
-
D7-Nov
7-Dec
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the American base on Pearl Harbor. About 2400 Americans were killed.
Question 41
The Civil War kicked off down South. Where, exactly, did it begin?
-
AFirst Battle of Bull Run
-
BFort Sumter
-
CPortland
-
DFredericksburg
Fort Sumter
The Battle at Fort Sumter set the scene for war. Union soldiers were thrown by the Confederates in April of 1861 in South Carolina, kicking off a four-year war that would be the deadliest in American history.
Question 42
Who is this pictured historical figure?
-
AMargaret Thatcher
-
BFlorence Nightingale
-
CRosa Parks
-
DHarriet Tubman
Rosa Parks
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus in order to accomodate a white passenger. She became a symbol of civil disobedience during the Civil Rights movement.
Question 43
This legendary actor broke through the race barrier by becoming the first black artist to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.
-
AHarry Belafonte
-
BLouis Gossett Jr.
-
CJames Earl Jones
-
DSidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Poitier received both the Oscar and the Golden Globe Best Actor awards for his portrayal of Homer Smith in <i>Lilies of the Field</i> (1963). Over his career, Poitier earned a total of six Golden Globe and two Oscar nominations.
Question 44
The Molotov Ribbentrop Pact was an agreement of nonaggression between which two countries? It was violated by one of them shortly thereafter.
-
AFrance and Germany
-
BGermany and Soviet Union
-
CSoviet Union and United States
-
DFrance and Britain
Germany and Soviet Union
The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, named for the foreign ministers of the USSR and Germany, was a nonagression agreement. The Germans broke it when they invaded Soviet holdings in Poland in 1941.
Question 45
Which of these military weapons was NOT used during WWI?
-
AChemical weapons
-
BMachine guns
-
CTrench warfare
-
DNuclear weapons
Nuclear weapons
The first country to develop nuclear weapons was the United States, not until 1945.
Question 46
Which famous historical figure is pictured here?
-
AFlorence Nightingale
-
BEleanor Roosevelt
-
CRosa Parks
-
DMarie Curie
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt was the wife of president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was thus the longest-serving First Lady in US history. She was also the US delegate to the United Nations after her husband's death, and was called the "First Lady of the World" by President Harry S. Truman.
Question 47
David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary. He is best known, however, for his exploration of which continent?
-
AAsia
-
BAfrica
-
CEurope
-
DAustralia
Africa
What started out as missionary work for David Livingstone in Africa turned out to be a period of exploration, mapping and navigation of the continent.
Question 48
When American men went abroad to fight in the war, American women worked on the home front. Not only did they keep up businesses and raise families; now they worked as nurses or in munitions factories and shipyards to support the war effort. What was the cultural icon that inspired and encouraged such work?
-
AEleanor Roosevelt
-
BMarilyn Monroe
-
CRosie the Riveter
-
DWonder Woman
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter depicts a woman in masculine clothes looking strong. She became a feminist icon in later decades.
Question 49
Queen Isabella of Castile was married to Ferdinand II of Aragon. Their marriage prompted the unification of which European country?
-
AGreece
-
BItaly
-
CSpain
-
DPortugal
Spain
Imperial Spain arose after the powerful kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were joined with Isabella and Ferdinand's marriage.
Question 50
Henry Hudson was an English explorer, but is well known for his exploration of which country?
-
ACanada
-
BScotland
-
CWales
-
DSpain
Canada
It was through searching for different routes in and out of Asia that Henry Hudson explored North America and Canada.
Question 51
Which Asian king's life became part of subject of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical 'The King and I'?
-
AKing Norodom of Cambodia
-
BKing Tsangpa of Tibet
-
CKing Zhao of Vietnam
-
DKing Mongkut of Siam
King Mongkut of Siam
The King and I' is based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to King Mongkut's children.
Question 52
What was the primary beef between the colonists and the Crown?
-
ATaxes
-
BAccents
-
CTariffs
-
DLaws
Taxes
Prior to the start of the revolution, the relationship between the Brits and the colonists had been souring for over a decade. Due to Britain's costly Seven Years' War, the Crown chose to cash in on colonial taxes (see the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act). Being that they had no reps in the British Parliament, the colonists were over it.
Question 53
Edmund Hillary was an explorer and mountaineer of New Zealander origin. Which mountain did he famously climb with Tenzing Norgay in the 1950's?
-
ATable Mountain
-
BMt Everest
-
CMt Fuji
-
DMt Kilimanjaro
Mt Everest
In May 1953, Hillary and Norgay became the first people to reach Everest's summit.
Question 54
This former slave became one the most influential abolitionists of the 19th century.
-
ANat Turner
-
BUlysses S. Grant
-
CFrederick Douglass
-
DDred Scott
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was renowned for his powerful and eloquent oratory, such as in this excerpt from an 1852 speech: "What to the American slave is your Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him more than all other days of the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him your celebration is a sham. . ."
Question 55
"All's well that ends well." What is considered the final major battle of the war?
-
ABattle of Stalingrad
-
BBattle of Yorktown
-
CBattle of Cowpens
-
DBattle of Princeton
Battle of Yorktown
With a French backing, the Colonial Army took out British General Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown, which would turn out to be the final major battle of the war. Cornwallis surrendered, and upon hearing the news across the ocean, Prime Minister Lord North said, โOh God, it is all over.โ He was right.
Question 56
Cleopatra reigned over Egypt for 21 years. She is believed to have taken her own life by inducing the bite of which animal?
-
AScorpion
-
BAsp
-
CSpider
-
DStingray
Asp
Cleopatra committed suicide with the aid of an asp on August 12, 30 B.C.
Question 57
Which empire did NOT collapse at the end of WWI?
-
ABritish Empire
-
BGermany
-
CAustria-Hungary
-
DOttoman Empire
British Empire
The British Empire was increased at the end of WWI because it claimed many of the territories lost by the Germans, Austrians, and Ottomans.
Question 58
Which baseball legend broke the sport's color line by becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues?
-
AHank Aaron
-
BJackie Robinson
-
CWillie Mays
-
DJesse Owens
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson made history when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Until that time, black ballplayers had only played in the Negro Leagues. Robinson went on to an extraordinary baseball career, winning Rookie of the Year that first season and League MVP two years later.
Question 59
Anne Boleyn was a key figure in the English Reformation. Following her trial for adultery, witchcraft and conspiracy, she was executed on the grounds of which English landmark?
-
ATower of London
-
BWestminster Abbey
-
CBlackpool Tower
-
DThe Famous Castle
Tower of London
Anne Boleyn was executed at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on May 19, 1536.
Question 60
The Pacific Theater of the war took a turn when American forces defeated the Japanese in this battle.
-
AGuadalcanal
-
BWake Island
-
CMidway
-
DCoral Sea
Midway
The Battle of Midway, which occurred on the Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, was a decisive victory for American forces. American cryptographers intercepted the date of the attack, and were prepared.
Question 61
WWI began with the assassination of which person?
-
AArchduke Franz Ferdinand
-
BWinston Churchill
-
CCzar Nicholas II
-
DDavid Lloyd George
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, was assassinated by Serbian nationalist organization the Black Hand on June 28, 1914.
Question 62
Sir Walter Raleigh was, among other things, a poet, soldier, and explorer. He famously led two expeditions in search of which precious substance?
-
AGold
-
BDiamonds
-
CSilver
-
DBronze
Gold
Sir Walter Raleigh led expeditions in 1595 and 1617.
Question 63
The Pacific war ended when the Japanese refused to surrender, and President Truman dropped the newly-developed atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What was the name of the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima?
-
ALady Southern Cross
-
BSpirit of St. Louis
-
CDouble Eagle II
-
DEnola Gay
Enola Gay
The Enola Gay flew the atomic bomb over Japan and dropped it onto Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
Question 64
Victoria became Queen of Great Britain and Ireland in 1837. Which additional title did she adopt in 1876?
-
ABaroness of Dubai
-
BEmpress of India
-
CArchduchess of Africa
-
DDuchess of Siam
Empress of India
The title Empress of India came from the time when the British monarch was also king of India.
Question 65
Marco Polo traveled with his family from Europe to Asia via the Middle East. During his travels, he spent 17 years in which Asian country?
-
AMalaysia
-
BJapan
-
CSingapore
-
DChina
China
Marco Polo spent 24 years away from his home country, with 17 of them being spent in China.
Question 66
Which of these was not a battle that occurred during WWI?
-
ACanal du Nord
-
BVerdun
-
CMidway
-
DYpres
Midway
Midway occurred during WWII between the United States and Japan.
Question 67
The Japanese invaded many parts of east Asia to create the Japanese Co-Prosperity Sphere. Which of these is NOT a country that was invaded during WWII?
-
AChina
-
BCambodia
-
CVietnam
-
DAustralia
Australia
Australia fought in the Pacific War, and was attacked, but never invaded.
Question 68
King Juan Carlos reigned from 1975 until 2014. Which country's monarchy did he preside over?
-
ASpain
-
BLuxembourg
-
CSweden
-
DMonaco
Spain
Juan Carlos became king of Spain following Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
Question 69
Harriet Tubman was the most productive conductor on the Underground Railroad. What was her codename?
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AJesus
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BMoses
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CFred
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DJehovah
Moses
Tubman achieved her own freedom by walking alone for 90 miles through woods and wetlands from her Maryland home to cross the Mason-Dixon line. Almost immediately, she embarked on her first of 13 return trips over the next eight years to rescue a total of 70 enslaved family and friends.
Question 70
Which historical figure is pictured here?
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AThomas Edison
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BAlbert Einstein
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CNikola Tesla
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DDwight Eisenhower
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison was one of the greatest and most prolific inventors of all time. During his years, he acquired 1,093 patents in his name and invented the phonograph, the light bulb, the movie camera, and many, many more.
Question 71
What battle, led by General Horatio Gates, is considered one of the biggest turning points in the war?
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ABattle of Okinawa
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BBattle of Harlem Heights
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CBattle of Monmouth
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DBattle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
With Howe heading south to meet Washington at Chesapeake Bay, British General John Burgoyne's forces were vulnerable in Saratoga. On September 19, Continental General Horatio Gates led his men to two sequential victories against Burgoyne's crew. This was a major turning point in the war, as France then threw their berets into the ring, backing the Americans.
Question 72
During WWI, which country endured a communist revolution that deposed its monarch?
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ARussia
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BLithuania
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COttoman Empire
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DGermany
Russia
In 1917, Czar Nicholas II of Russia was overthrown, allowing for the creation of the USSR.
Question 73
Elizabeth I reigned over England and Ireland from 1558 until her death. Likely due to her childlessness, she was given what nickname?
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AThe Barren Queen
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BThe Spinster Queen
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CThe Virgin Queen
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DThe Single Queen
The Virgin Queen
Elizabeth I was nicknamed The Virgin Queen due to her apparent aversion to matrimony and motherhood.
Question 74
What countries were part of the Central Powers alliance?
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AThe United States, Austria
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BBritain, France
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CFrance, Germany
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DGermany, Austria-Hungary
Germany, Austria-Hungary
Germany and Austria-Hungary were the Central Powers, although many other actors joined the war on their side.
Question 75
What international body was created at the end of WWI?
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AInternational Monetary Fund
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BLeague of Nations
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CUnited Nations
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DEuropean Union
League of Nations
The League of Nations was a precursor to the United Nations.
Question 76
Frontiersman Kit Carson is known for several expeditions exploring which American state?
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AVirginia
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BMaine
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CWisconsin
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DOregon
Oregon
Kit Carson assisted John C. Fremont is his mapping, reporting and commentary of the Oregon Trail.
Question 77
One of the victors in World War One was sidelined during the treaty discussions, and ended up opposing its former allies in World War Two. Which country was this?
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AJapan
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BUnited States
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CBritain
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DAustria
Japan
Japan was not given much of the spoils of victory, and the other victors showed little enthusiasm in permitting the Japanese to join their world order.
Question 78
Who is this political activist, college professor and one-time Black Panthers supporter?
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AAssata Shakur
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Bbell hooks
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CAngela Davis
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DGloria Steinem
Angela Davis
Angela Davis spent 18 months in jail for charges connected to a violent prison outbreak, but was later acquitted. She is still politically active today and is a sought-after speaker.
Question 79
Numbers matter in war. How big was the Union Army compared to the Confederates?
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AFifty times the size
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BHalf the size
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CA third of the size
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DTwice the size
Twice the size
At 2,100,000 soldiers, the Union Army outstripped the Confederates (at 1,064,000) nearly twice over. This difference is reflective of the population size in the North and to the South at that time โ with the North at 22 million and the South at 9 million.
Question 80
When it was first invented, people called this Alessandro Volta creation the Voltaic pile. What was this powerful object's eventual name?
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AAir compressor
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BExtension cord
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CHydraulic spring
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DBattery
Battery
The term 'Voltaic pile' came from Alessandro Volta's name and the design of his invention - a 'pile' of copper and zinc discs separated by spacers soaked in salt water.
Question 81
What river did Washington famously cross twice in December of 1776?
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ADelaware River
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BPotomac River
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CThe Nile
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DSt. Lawrence River
Delaware River
After a triumphant defeat against the Hessian forces in Trenton, Washington crossed the Delaware River on December 26, 1776...only to, four days later, guide his army back to gain a better position against the advancing Redcoats.
Question 82
Not all soldiers die gloriously in battle. In fact, two-thirds of Civil War soldiers died of what cause?
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ABattle wounds
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BStarvation
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CThe Black Plague
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DDisease
Disease
You may have thought most Civil War casualties were on the battlefield, but you'd be wrong. Disease took the lives of two-thirds of all who perished, due to its contagious spread amongst close-quarter camps. Mumps, measles, chickenpox, and malaria took out more soldiers than any shot fired.
Question 83
Which early battle ended in a decided British victory but buoyed American morale?
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ABattle of Trenton
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BBattle of Brandywine
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CBattle of Bunker Hill
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DBattle of the Bulge
Battle of Bunker Hill
"Men, you are all marksmen - don't one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes," Colonel Prescott said at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle (which actually occurred on Breed's Hill) in Massachusetts was one of the first defining battles of the Revolutionary War. On June 17, 1775, it ended in a British victory, but the unpracticed colonists managed to do some damage, giving them a much-needed ego-boost.
Question 84
The 13th Amendment read that โneither slavery nor involuntary servitudeโฆ shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.โ What else was declared illegal in the aftermath of the war?
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ASecession
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BAlcohol
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CTaxation without representation
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DDancing
Secession
Secession was officially ruled illegal after the war, as the U.S. Supreme Court determined it unconstitutional in Texas v. White in 1868. The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Salmon Chase, read "The ordinance of secession...and all the acts of legislature intended to give effect to that ordinance, were absolutely null. They were utterly without operation in law."
Question 85
In many cultures, queens are not given the same lavish burial rights as their male counterparts. Which following female bucked that trend and is buried in the Valley of the Kings?
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ASirikit
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BBoudicca
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CHatshepsut
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DNorodom
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut was originally buried in tomb KV20 in the Valley of the Kings, but may have been re-interred since then.
Question 86
Who was president when the United States joined the war?
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ATheodore Roosevelt
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BWoodrow Wilson
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CFranklin Delano Roosevelt
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DCalvin Coolidge
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson was president throughout WWI and was a major player at the Paris Peace Conference.
Question 87
Brilliant botanist and inventor George Washington Carver is well known for discovering many unconventional uses for which humble crop?
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ABarley
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BPeanuts
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CCotton
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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 88
William the Conqueror reigned over England for 21 years, despite not being born in England. What nationality was he?
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AAustrian
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BFrench
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CMexican
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DBritish
French
William the Conqueror was born in Falaise, Normandy, circa 1028.
Question 89
In 1770, Captain James Cook and his shipmates became the first recorded Europeans to arrive on the eastern coast of Australia. What was the name of the ship in which they sailed?
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AMinnow
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BMayflower
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CEndeavour
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DMerry Widow
Endeavour
In April 1770, the Endeavour went ashore at what is now Sydney's Botany Bay.
Question 90
Where was Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated?
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ADallas, Texas
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BAtlanta, Georgia
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CMemphis, Tennessee
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DPalm Springs, California
Memphis, Tennessee
As if prophesizing his own death, King's final speech in Memphis the previous night was his celebrated "I've Been to the Mountaintop," which ends with these historic words: โIโve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And Iโm happy tonight. Iโm not worried about anything. Iโm not fearing any man."
Question 91
What was "40 Acres and a Mule"?
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AA civil rights manifesto.
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BA classic plantation song.
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CA post-Civil War reparations plan.
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DThe first published children's book by an African-American author.
A post-Civil War reparations plan.
When the Civil War ended, the Union had to figure out what to do with all that confiscated rebel land. Their utterly radical decision? Give it to the newly freed slavesโup to 40 acres each (the mule part came later). Within months of the January 1865 order, 40,000 former slaves had settled onto 400,000 acres of plantation land once owned by their white masters. And then, just as quickly, it was snatched back. If Lincoln hadn't been assassinated that spring, the course of American history might have been dramatically different. But his Southern-sympathizing successor, Andrew Johnson, wasted no time reversing the order, expelling the former slaves and giving the land back to the country's sworn enemies.
Question 92
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz became a queen after marrying King George III. In which country was she born?
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AGermany
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BHungary
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CFrance
-
DSwitzerland
Germany
Charlotte was born in the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on May 19, 1744.
Question 93
Many soldiers wrote poems, plays, and novels to convey the trauma of war. Which of these was about WWI?
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AAnimal Farm
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BIvanhoe
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CThe Red Badge of Courage
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DAll Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front
The Red Badge of Courage was about the American Civil War; Animal Farm was about the Russian Revolution, and Ivanhoeis about 12th century Scotland.
Question 94
Which infamous historical figure is pictured here?
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AUlysses S. Grant
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BRobert E. Lee
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CGeorge Washington
-
DWilliam Henry
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee was the Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War.
Question 95
Eleanor of Aquitaine lived between 1122 and 1204. During her lifetime, she was Queen consort of England and which other country?
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AAustria
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BFrance
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CBelgium
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DDenmark
France
Eleanor of Aquitaine was Queen consort of France from 1137 to 1152.
Question 96
What was NOT one of the eleven states of the Confederacy?
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ALouisiana
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BWest Virginia
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CVirginia
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DAlabama
West Virginia
The Confederacy was made up of eleven states, including Texas, Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. You may wonder why then the Southern Cross has thirteen stars. The additional two stars represent Missouri and Kentucky, each of which proclaimed neutrality in the war, but inevitably ended up involved, when forces entered the states.
Question 97
"There will be blood..." Who was the bloodiest general of the war, losing the most soldiers under his command?
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AUlysses S. Grant
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BDouglas MacArthur
-
CRobert E. Lee
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DGeorge Armstrong Custer
Robert E. Lee
After losing twice the number of troops as Robert E. Lee in the 1864 Overland Campaign, General Ulysses S. Grant was deemed a "butcher" by President Lincoln's wife, Mary. However, in looking at an overview of the entire war, Lee's attack strategy resulted in significantly more Confederate casualties.
Question 98
Mary I became Queen of England and Ireland in 1553. She was the only adult offspring of Henry VIII and which of his wives?
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AKatie Parr
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BCatherine of Aragon
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CJane Seymour
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DAnne of Cleves
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon was pregnant seven times, with all six of her other children either being stillborn or dying in infancy.
Question 99
Boudicca was Queen of the Iceni tribe of eastern Britain. Shortly before her death, she led an uprising against which empire?
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ABritish
-
BRoman
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CSaxon
-
DAmerican
Roman
Boudica spearheaded a failed uprising against the Roman Empire circa AD 60.
Question 100
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was born in Utrecht in 1967. He is the eldest child of which queen who reigned for 33 years?
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ABeatrix
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BMargerthe
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CHelga
-
DUrsula
Beatrix
King Willem-Alexander is the eldest of three sons borne to Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Arnsberg.
Comments (342)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.
I didn't expect to do as well as I did.
A few questions left out very important details. Therefore, it was difficult to accurately answer the questions.
It still didn't tell me my IQ.
I guess I did ok considering I only have a sixth grade education
Hey I got 73 percent not bad for a 87 year old...
Amazing what I remembered from school over 50 years ago. Enjoy most but get frustrated at myself.
It showed me how much I have forgotten. It was a challenge.
It was fun
Fun, brought back lots of school memories!
I enjoyed the opportunity. Good memory, 70 is not too old.
I loved it!
It was fun
It was fun.
IT WAS ALL VISUAL .
I thought this test was simple l got an (A) not bad for 64 yrs.old.Alot of answers are common Sense.
Lots of fun !?9
@user3964008 exactly I think I would have got three questions right if it wasn't for that I pressed the button way too fast
I missed 2 questions bc the page scrolled as i was selecting the right answers. Grrr
I like trying them, to see how much I remember. We should do some Bible quizzes too.
@user4126018 depends on your perspective