American History for Fifth Graders Quiz

Answer: Colorado

Mesa Verde in Colorado is one of the best examples of cliff dwelling in the world. It is a US National Park and a World Heritage Site, meaning the United Nations considers it important historically. Tribes in the Midwest were nomadic (moved around) and lived in tents. Tribes in New England also lived largely in tents.

Answer: Bulgaria

The Spanish were the first to explore the Americas, starting with Christopher Columbus in 1492. The French explored Canada and the Midwest. The English settled Virginia and New England. Bulgaria did not actually exist as a country until 1878.

Answer: William Bradford - New Jersey

William Bradford was one of the leaders of the Pilgrims. He helped found Plymouth in Massachusetts. The first settlers of New Jersey were Dutch, led by Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who settled near Cape May.

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, who would become the third president of the United States, wrote the Declaration of Independence in June 1776. It may be the most important document in history, as it has inspired people in countries all around the world to lead revolutions against governments that oppress them. Benjamin Franklin was in Congress with Jefferson, and suggested he write the Declaration. Patrick Henry said "Give me liberty or give me death." Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense," a book in favor of independence from England.

Answer: False

The Declaration was about freedom of the American colonies from England. Thomas Jefferson actually wrote a paragraph about slavery in the Declaration of Independence, but was forced to remove it when slave-owners from South Carolina objected. It would take almost 90 years and a civil war that killed over 500,000 people before African-American slaves gained their freedom.

Answer: The Constitution

The Constitution became the law of the land in March of 1789. It has been used ever since, and is the oldest Constitution in the world still in effect. The Constitution sets up the powers of Congress, The President, and the courts, and limits what they can do. The Magna Carta established rights in England in 1215. The Mayflower Compact set up the rules for Plymouth Colony in 1620. The Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in 1863.

Answer: Texas

The Northwest Ordinance covered the states which we now call the Midwest: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota. Ohio was the first to become a state in 1803, Illinois became a state in 1818, and Wisconsin joined the union in 1848. Texas was an part of Mexico, and then became its own independent country after 1836. Texas became part of the USA in 1845.

Answer: Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark led the Corps of Discovery, which started from Saint Louis in May 1804 and reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. John Marshall was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1803. Daniel Boone was a famous mountain man and explorer; he was 68 years old in 1803, a little old for exploring. John C Fremont was also an explorer, but was born in 1813; he was the first Republican candidate for President.

Answer: Gold

Almost 300,000 people came to California as part of the Gold Rush. About half came by boat; the others came from the Eastern United States, most along the California Trail. The first gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in January 1848. While California has large amounts of oil, especially in the south, oil drilling really did not start until the 1890s. California is also the leading producer of many different kinds of vegetables. Bigfoot is usually seen farther north, mainly Oregon and Washington.

Answer: Mexican War

The United States gained California, Nevada, Utah and most of Arizona as a result of a war with Mexico in 1847. A young congressman named Abraham Lincoln challenged President Polk about whether the war was legal. The War of 1812 was a last effort by the British to retake America. The Civil War was between the northern and southern states over slavery. World War I was fought 1914-1918, and the lower 48 states were all set by then.