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John Adams Trivia

John Adams Trivia Quizzes

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4 John Adams quizzes and 40 John Adams trivia questions.
1.
  John Adams, America's Second President   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Although he only served one term, John Adams did have a significant impact during those four years and beyond.
Average, 10 Qns, skevino, Jun 13 17
Average
skevino gold member
786 plays
2.
  President John Adams and His Times   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"Always an honest man; often a great one, but sometimes absolutely mad."...........Thomas Jefferson in a letter July 29, 1789 to James Madison paraphrasing Benjamin Franklin's opinion of Adams.
Average, 10 Qns, socalmiguel, Feb 09 12
Average
socalmiguel
832 plays
3.
  John Adams: The Original Model    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
For years, Adams has been seen as the weak link between the presidencies of Washington and Jefferson. While he did have his faults (who doesn't?), Adams was a politican who knew the value of patience. Test your knowledge of this Founding Father.
Difficult, 10 Qns, trammgr, Apr 22 08
Difficult
trammgr
1261 plays
4.
  You Don't Know John...    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Not many people know about our second president, John Adams, overshadowed by the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Let's see if you know "Bonny" Johnny Adams and his term in office.
Tough, 10 Qns, Geniusman101, Mar 27 24
Tough
Geniusman101
Mar 27 24
874 plays

John Adams Trivia Questions
1. John Adams was married to this woman on October 25, 1764, in Weymouth Massachusetts. The two of them would stay married until her death in 1818 from typhoid fever. Can you name John Adams' wife?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: Abigail Adams

Born on November 23, 1744 in Weymouth Massachusetts, Abigail Smith was the daughter of Williams Smith and Elizabeth Quincy Smith. She was also the granddaughter of Colonel John Quincy, a Massachusetts legislator.

2. John Adams was born in Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts in 1735. As Norfolk County developed, the Adams home in Old Braintree was incorporated into a different town in 1792. Which is the name of the modern "City of Presidents"?

From Quiz President John Adams and His Times

Answer: Quincy

The town of Quincy was named after Colonel John Quincy, maternal grandfather of Abigail nee Smith Adams. The sixth US President, John Quincy Adams, was born in Braintree in 1767 and named after his great-grandfather. The town of Brookline, to the north of Quincy, is the birthplace of the 35th President John F. Kennedy. The town of Milton, adjoining Quincy to the west, is the birthplace of the 41st President George H. W. Bush. Norfolk County, Massachusetts is the birthplace of 4 US Presidents.

3. John Adams was born on October 30, 1735. However, the town of his birth, Quincy, Massachusetts, went by another name on that night before Halloween lo, those many years ago. What was it known as in the day of Adams?

From Quiz John Adams: The Original Model

Answer: Braintree

The town of Braintree was established in 1640. Quincy was at that time a precinct of Braintree. In a fit of individualism, it broke away from Braintree in 1792, establishing itself as a town. City incorporation came in 1888. The town's founder and namesake, Colonel John Quincy, was a great-grandfather of John Quincy Adams.

4. From what college did John Adams graduate?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Harvard

Adams graduated from Harvard and became a lawyer by 1758. The irony here is that Adams never liked school, or large groups of people, for that matter.

5. Prior to his becoming president, John Adams served as Vice President from 1789-1797. Much has been written about the relationship between these two men. Can you name who Adams served under as VP?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: George Washington

Well, if John Adams was the second president then the person who he served under as Vice President should be pretty obvious. Most historians agree that Adams had a great deal of respect for Washington.

6. As a young lawyer in Boston in 1770, Adams was called upon to represent the British commander and eight of his soldiers who "started" the Boston Massacre. Who was the British captain that Adams defended?

From Quiz John Adams: The Original Model

Answer: Thomas Preston

Adams, along with his partner Josiah Quincy, were the only lawyers in Boston willing to face the wrath of their neighbors and defend Preston. Although a patriot, Adams believed that the British soldiers involved were innocent, and that more blame need be placed at the doorsteps of the "victims." Adams surprised Boston, and himself, by successfully defending Captain Preston, and then winning the acquital of six of the eight soldiers. The two that were convicted were found guilty only of manslaughter, and received a slap on the wrist. They had their thumbs branded. As for Adams, for his efforts he received very little money and a great deal of enmity on the part of his fellow Bostonians, including his cousin, Samuel Adams.

7. Which French foreign minister was involved in the infamous XYZ affair, which occurred during the Adams presidency?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Talleyrand

Adams sent over C.C. Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry to work out a treaty with France after the failed Jay's Treaty. Unfortunately for Adams, Talleyrand didn't respect America as a true nation at the time.

8. This man served as Attorney General under John Adams. He was a holdover from Washington's cabinet and was in favor of outright war against France. Can you name this man?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: Charles Lee

Born in 1758, Charles Lee was originally appointed Attorney General by George Washington to replace William Bradford, who had died. He was also the uncle of Robert E. Lee. Thomas Jefferson offered Charles Lee an appointment as a Supreme Court Justice, which Lee declined. He passed away in 1815 in Virginia.

9. From 1778 until 1788 Adams served as a diplomatic envoy of the United States to several international posts. To which country was Adams not appointed as a US envoy?

From Quiz President John Adams and His Times

Answer: Spain

The Continental Congress appointed Adams as representative of the United States in various posts from 1778-1788: Envoy to France (1778-1785); Envoy to The Netherlands (1780-1783); Ambassador to Great Britain (1785-1788). While in the Netherlands, Adams purchased a building at Fluwelen Burgwal 18 in The Hague on April 19, 1782. On that same day, The Netherlands recognized the United States as an independent nation and Adams displayed the US flag on his building in celebration. The building is said to have been the first US Embassy in the world.

10. What was the name of the undeclared war fought between America and France during Adams' term?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Quasi War

This war was never declared, so not many people know about it today. It was waged on the open sea, and as a young country just recovering from a war, this was the last thing Adams needed.

11. When Adams took over as U.S. president in March of 1797, there were only four cabinet positions in existence. What was unique about the men who initially made up John Adams' cabinet?

From Quiz John Adams: The Original Model

Answer: There were all holdovers from Washington's presidency.

Adams' reasons for keeping all of Washington's last cabinet have been questioned for years, as Adams had, at best, a difficult relationship with most of the members. One reason he kept them was that it would have been difficult to find replacements. The low pay and lack of prestige (sounds like my job) kept away many a qualified candidate. Adams, as Washington's vice president, saw the difficulty Washington had in filling these positions. Better to keep the status quo than run the risk of not having an attorney general or secretary of state. Also, the 1796 election, thanks to the shenanigans of Alexander Hamilton, had caused great divisions within the Federalist Party. Some have offered the theory that Adams kept the present members in order to avoid further erosion of the party.

12. Which American in France in 1799 tried to make a treaty by himself, without the government's or Adams' consent?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: George Logan

There was a law passed directly after this called the Logan Act, which stated that no unauthorized citizen could go to a country and make a treaty for the United States.

13. Adams, as a politician and as an individual, was admired by some and hated by others. Who made the following statement about John Adams, "Honest, intelligent, and sometimes out of his mind"?

From Quiz John Adams: The Original Model

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Adams and Franklin were part of the committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, ending the Revolutionary War. Although Franklin respected Adams, they had conflicting personalities. While Franklin was genial and open, Adams could be cold and distant. To his family, however, Adams was a warm, loving man. The letters between himself and his wife Abigail bear testament to a life-long love affair that was rooted in mutual trust and respect. Guess it's all in the point of view.

14. Which laws were somehow passed by Adams (Federalist) to weaken the Democratic-Republican party and were considered, for the most part, unconstitutional?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Alien & Sedition Acts

The Sedition Act of the Alien & Sedition Acts said the president could fine or imprison anyone who spoke out, published, or wrote anything against a member of Congress or Executive Branch. They went completely against the Bill of Rights. No wonder the laws only lasted two years.

15. John Adams was a reluctant member of which political party?

From Quiz President John Adams and His Times

Answer: Federalist Party

Adams called the establishment of political parties "the greatest political evil under our Constitution."

16. As a president, John Adams did something daring. He sacrificed his chance at re-election for the good of his country. What did he do that was so important?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Convention of 1800 (peace with France)

Adams sent over William Vans Murray, Oliver Ellsworth (Supreme Chief Justice), and William Davie to France to work out a treaty. Talleyrand, this time, accepted the Americans as a nation and was able to work out a deal.

17. In July 1798, President Adams approved legislation allowing the Federal Government to tax property. This resulted in a number of Pennsylvanians taking up arms against tax assessors the following Spring. What was the name of this rebellion?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: Fries Rebellion

John Fries was the leader of this rebellion. Fries had personally cautioned the tax assessors to halt their work to no avail. He then lead an armed resistance, which resulted in the assessors abandoning their work temporarily. Fries was eventually convicted of treason.

18. Although no states entered the union, the US extended its jurisdiction to two territories during the Adams administration. Which two territories were added?

From Quiz President John Adams and His Times

Answer: Indiana and Mississippi Territories

Mississippi (1798) from territory ceded to the US from Spain in the 1795 Treat of Madrid; Indiana (1800) from the old Northwest Territory. Michigan Territory (1805) and Minnesota Territory (1849). Dakota Territory (1861) - including North and South Dakota. Territory of Hawaii (1900) and Territory of Alaska (1912).

19. What cabinet position was created during John Adams' term as president?

From Quiz John Adams: The Original Model

Answer: Secretary of the Navy

One of Adams' more flattering, and accurate, nicknames is "Father of the American Navy." As president, he pushed for a strong navy to offset the naval power of France and England, both of whom were threatening to use the U.S. as a pawn in their own little spat. Adams was determined to strengthen America's power of neutrality by strengthening the navy and created the post in 1798. The Postmaster General was given cabinet status in 1829 by Andrew Jackson. The Interior came into existence under Zachary Taylor in 1849. The secretary of the Army has never been a cabinet position.

20. Americans may know that John's wife was Abigail Adams, but what was her maiden name?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Smith

Abigail Smith, now known as Abigail Adams, married John in 1764. She was incredibly smart, and kept John informed of goings on while he was away.

21. John Adams was a second cousin of this well-known man, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This man also served as the fourth governor of Massachusetts. Can you name this man?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams was born in 1722 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is often associated with the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. He also played a leading rule in the Boston Tea Party. He passed away in 1803.

22. Who was John Adams' Vice President?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

The vice presidency back then wasn't much of a job, and not much happened with Jefferson as VP.

23. This man served as Secretary of Treasury during the Adams Administration. His predecessor was Oliver Wolcott, who was heavily critical of Adams for departing from what he felt was Federalism. Can you name the man I am referring to?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: Samuel Dexter

Samuel Dexter was born in 1761. He previously had served as Secretary of War for Adams. He stayed on briefly in the Jefferson Administration. He also served in the Massachusetts Senate.

24. What were John Adams' famous last words?

From Quiz You Don't Know John...

Answer: Thomas Jefferson survives & Thomas Jefferson still survives & Thomas Jefferson lives

The irony was that Thomas Jefferson had in fact died a couple of hours earlier at his house, Monticello. They both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

25. At his home in Quincy, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1826 John Adams passed away. On that exact same day another American president also died. Can you name this man who died on the same day as John Adams?

From Quiz John Adams, America's Second President

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Adams and Jefferson are linked together for obvious reasons. At different times they were friends and rivals. The fact that they died on the same day only serves to link them together in the annals of history.

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