US History (1500s-1600s) Quiz | US History for Kids

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This European led the expedition that was the first to arrive in what would eventually become the United States. Who was he?

Answer: Juan Ponce de Leon

Juan Ponce de Leon was the Spanish captain of three ships which were searching for the Fountain of Youth. The three ships were: the Santiago, the San Cristobal, and the Santa Maria de la Consolacion. He landed in a land unknown to the Europeans in 1513.

He formed a settlement called St. Augustine and named the land la Florida (the flower) because it was Easter season, which the Spaniards called "Pascua Florida".

2. The first English settlement in the New World failed miserably. What was the colony that they set up called?

Answer: Roanoke

Roanoke Island was located in modern day North Carolina. An expedition led by Sir Walter Raleigh and John White explored there. The colony was established in 1585. A couple of months later, John White returned to England to get food and other needs. He had promised to return the following year, but because of a war with Spain, he was delayed.

When he did return in 1587, they found the colony abandoned completely. To this day, no one is sure what happened to the colonists of Roanoke.

3. Years later, another new colony in Jamestown was settled. Who was the leader of the colony?

Answer: John Smith

John Smith's tale was made popular in the Disney movie "Pocahontas". The events that took place in that movie were not real, though. Smith was chosen to be a leader. He did get captured by the Powhatan tribe; however, they never intended to kill him and actually made him a subchief. He was forced to go back to England after being injured by a gunpowder explosion on the ship.

4. The next group of people who traveled to what is now the US came from England. These people were strict Christians who wanted to break away from the Church of England. What were they called?

Answer: Puritans

The Puritans are more commonly known as the Pilgrims, although they are not the only pilgrims. A pilgrim is anyone who makes a journey for the purpose of religion. They traveled to what would become the US on the Mayflower in 1620. On the ship, they signed a document called the Mayflower Contract, which formed the basis of the Constitution.

After a harsh winter, they were taught how to plant crops by Tisquantum, popularly known as Squanto. The US holiday Thanksgiving comes from these people.

5. In 1614, the Netherlands set up a colony known as New Netherlands. What was the name of the capital?

Answer: New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam was located in modern-day New York. The colony was formed in 1614. Later, the English captured it from the Dutch and formed another colony. They renamed New Amsterdam to New York after the Duke of York, the future King James II of England.

6. This European bought Manhattan Island from the Native Americans. What is his name?

Answer: Peter Minuit

Peter Minuit was the 3rd Director-General of New Netherlands. He purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape Americans for $24 worth of goods. Later Minuit also helped set up colonies for Sweden. Cheap price for Manhattan, considering that these days, a parking space there costs a lot more than that.

7. Christopher Columbus, after a long time of searching, finally landed in what is now the United States.

Answer: False

I know that Columbus didn't do much in the 1500s but I had to add him in this quiz. Despite many misconceptions, not only did Columbus not land in what is now the United States, he didn't even realize that this was a new land. Columbus landed in Hispaniola (the island that makes up the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and some of the islands in the Bahamas.

8. In 1681, the king of England granted this man a charter to start a Quaker colony. The state was later named after him. Who is he?

Answer: William Penn

William Penn was a Quaker who was jailed three times because of his religion. King Charles II soon got tired of him and told him to set up a colony in the new land. Charles supplied Penn with around 16,000 pounds in order to pay off a debt owed by Charles to Penn's father. William Penn traveled to the New World in 1684.

He named the land he landed in Pennsylvania after his father (although I have no idea why he did not just name it after himself, would've been the same right?). He formed a colony that was peaceful to the natives and, unlike many other colonies, allowed people to worship freely.

9. Towards the end of the 17th century, one particular city got a great scare after many people were accused of witchcraft. What was this series of trials called?

Answer: Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials started after two girls claimed to have been possessed by witches. They eventually accused many people of witchcraft. More than 200 people were accused and 20 people executed. The witch trials went on from 1692 to 1693 and actually took place in some other cities as well, not just Salem.

10. Did new colonies in what would later become the US stop being settled after 1699?

Answer: No

During the 1700s, areas in the midwest were colonized. In the 1800s, Alaska was colonized. Colonization in the United States kept on going for a long time. Even one of the first thirteen colonies was formed after 1700 (Georgia, formed in 1732).

Source: Author foil7

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor NatalieW before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

US History (1500s-1600s) Trivia Quiz

Some questions on US history. Timespan: 1500s to 1600s.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>