Basic United States History Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Pilgrims

The Pilgrims came from England in 1620 and celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. When they first arrived in Massachusetts the Pilgrims did not know much about farming or hunting. The Native Americans helped them survive the winter and then the Pilgrims and Native Americans joined and celebrated the first Thanksgiving.

Answer: Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America in 1492; however, there are some people who say that other explorers came to America before Columbus. As well, America was already inhabited by native people before he arrived. He had been sent on a voyage to find India and when he landed on an island off of the coast of Florida he first thought that he had found India.

Answer: July 4th

The United States declared its independence on July 4, 1776.

Answer: George Washington

George Washington was the first president of the United States. Before that he was the leader of the military forces in the war with Great Britain.

Answer: The White House

In 1814 the British landed their ships in southern Maryland, marched through the countryside, and then entered the city of Washington. President James Madison and his wife fled the city and the British set fire to the White House.

Answer: Great Britain

The United States colonists revolted against British rule and unfair taxes and started a revolution that eventually won independence for the United States.

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which ordered that all slaves be set free from their owners. Before Lincoln signed this order, slaves were owned by wealthy plantation owners and had to work long hours, were often treated cruelly, and sometimes were whipped when they did not work hard.

Answer: Germany

Germany started World War II by invading Poland. The United States entered World War II in 1941 after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and later fought against Germany.

Answer: The Wright Brothers

Wilber and Orville Wright ran a bicycle shop in Ohio. They thought of an idea that would make a machine fly. They took their airplane to Kitty Hawk, NC where their first flight took place in December, 1903. Their first flight was only 127 feet.

Answer: Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison invented the light bulb around 1880. He started his experiments in earlier years. Before Edison invented the light bulb people's life was much different. They could not read at night or stay up late because it was always dark. The light bulb gave them the opportunity to do more things at night.