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U.S. Civil War Trivia Quiz

Here is a beginner's guide to the U.S. Civil War

A multiple-choice quiz by Dreessen. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Dreessen

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
397,056

Updated
Apr 22 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
478

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the first major land battle of the U.S. Civil War? Hint

First Bull Run

Gettysburg

Antietam

Cold Harbor

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Question 2 of 10

2. What battle of the U.S. Civil War is known as the bloodiest day in American history? Hint

Petersburg

Antietam

Stones River

Sayler's Creek

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Question 3 of 10

3. On what day did the U.S. Civil War end? Hint

April 9, 1865

April 4, 1865

April 7, 1865

April 12, 1865

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Question 4 of 10

4. The Southern Army won the Battle of Gettysburg.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was U.S. President at the time of the Civil War? Hint

Theodore Roosevelt

Franklin Roosevelt

Abraham Lincoln

James Buchanan

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is considered to be the primary cause of the U.S. Civil War? Hint

Nullification

Farming territory

Export treaties

Slavery

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the commander of the Union 2nd Corps, and arguably one of the greatest generals in American history? Hint

George Sykes

Horatio Wright

Winfield Scott Hancock

Ulysses Grant

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Confederate surrender at Vicksburg gave control of the Mississippi River to the Northern forces.

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which Virginia city was an important rail hub and saw a long siege from June 1864-April 1865? Hint

Petersburg

Centreville

Manassas

Richmond

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Question 10 of 10

10. The U.S. Civil War led to the passing of how many constitutional amendments? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the first major land battle of the U.S. Civil War?

Answer: First Bull Run

This battle was fought on July 21, 1861, and was a Confederate victory. The heavy casualties squelched any hopes for a short war.

2. What battle of the U.S. Civil War is known as the bloodiest day in American history?

Answer: Antietam

The number of dead is generally thought to be around 3,000, although recent data may lead to that number being higher. More importantly, the Union victory led to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.

3. On what day did the U.S. Civil War end?

Answer: April 9, 1865

General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to U.S. General Grant. This marked the end of the war for the most part.

4. The Southern Army won the Battle of Gettysburg.

Answer: False

The Northern Army won a resounding victory and permanently turned the tide of the war in the Union's favor. Lee would not be able to go on the offensive again.

5. Who was U.S. President at the time of the Civil War?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln is widely considered to be the greatest President in U.S. history, according to a survey of nearly 200 political scientists of the American Political Science Association. The findings were published in February of 2018.

6. What is considered to be the primary cause of the U.S. Civil War?

Answer: Slavery

Slavery was the central cause. At first it was over the spreading of it further west, but then it became primarily about the freedom of African-Americans.

7. Who was the commander of the Union 2nd Corps, and arguably one of the greatest generals in American history?

Answer: Winfield Scott Hancock

Hancock the Superb, as he was called, engineered the successful Union defense at Gettysburg and won a bloody victory at the Mule Shoe in Spotsylvania. He narrowly lost to James Garfield, a fellow Civil War veteran, for President in 1880.

8. The Confederate surrender at Vicksburg gave control of the Mississippi River to the Northern forces.

Answer: True

Grant's capture of this city split the Confederacy in two and, combined with Gettysburg, decisively marked the beginning of the Northern march to victory. This siege would foreshadow Petersburg a year later.

9. Which Virginia city was an important rail hub and saw a long siege from June 1864-April 1865?

Answer: Petersburg

This siege ground down Lee's army to less than 30,000 soldiers and resulted in the loss of the last major Southern rail center. Petersburg was captured by a general Union assault on April 2. The war ended seven days later.

10. The U.S. Civil War led to the passing of how many constitutional amendments?

Answer: 3

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments abolished slavery, guaranteed due process of law for all Americans, and secured the vote for all males. Sadly, they neglected women until 1920.

Source: Author Dreessen

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor NatalieW before going online.
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