U.S. Government Firsts Trivia Quiz

Answer: Henry Knox

General Henry Knox, who fought with then General George Washington in the Revolutionary War, was Washington's first Secretary of War in 1789. Pickering (1795) and McHenry (1796) were also Secretaries of War for Washington. Dexter (1800) was Secretary of War for John Adams.

Answer: Frederick Muhlenberg

Muhlenberg, a Federalist from Pennsylvania, served twice as Speaker: 1789-91 and 1793-95. The others were also Speakers of the House: Trumbull (1791-93), Dayton (1795-99), and Sedgwick (1799-1801).

Answer: Norman J. Coleman

The Department of Agriculture was created in 1862. In 1889 its commissioner was renamed Secretary of Agriculture and became a member of the Cabinet. Coleman, from Missouri, was the first Secretary of Agriculture under then President Glover Cleveland. The others were also Secretaries of Agriculture: Rusk (1889-93), Morton (1893-97), and Wilson (1897-1913).

Answer: Martin Van Buren

All of the above were born in New York State, however Van Buren, who was the 8th U.S. President (1837-41), was the first. He was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook New York. He was also the first President born as a U.S. citizen.

Answer: William Henry Harrison

Harrison was the 9th U.S. President and served for only 31 days. He caught pneumonia during the inauguration and died on April 4, 1841. Taylor served only 16 months and died after falling ill in 1850. Lincoln was assassinated during his second term in 1865. Tyler did not die in office.

Answer: John N. Garner

Garner was Roosevelt's Vice President during his first two terms (1933-41). He was followed by Wallace (1941-45), then Truman (1945). Truman became President when Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Barkley was Truman's Vice President (1949-53).

Answer: James Monroe

In the election of 1820, Monroe defeated John Quincy Adams by an Electoral Vote of 231 - 1 becoming the first president to go over the 200 Electoral vote mark. Washington ran unopposed but due to the small number of states at the time of his election (1789 and 1792) he only won 69 and 132 Electoral Votes. Jefferson won 73 and 162 Electoral votes in the elections of 1800 and 1804. Jackson was the second President to go over the 200 vote mark when he received 219 Electoral Votes in 1832.

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson was also the first Secretary of State serving President Washington from 1789-94. Madison, Monroe and Quincy Adams were all former Secretaries of State who later became President.

Answer: New York City, NY

The first Congress met at Federal Hall, New York City on March 4, 1789. On December 6, 1790 the temporary capital was established in Philadelphia before moving the government permanently to Washington DC in 1800.

Answer: James Monroe

James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States, served as Secretary of War (1814-15) for President James Madison. Taft is the only other President listed above to serve as Secretary of War when he held that post during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt (1904-08).