USA Odds and Ends Trivia Quiz

Answer: My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night!

Kentucky's state song isn't named 'My Old Kentucky Home.' The full title of the Stephen Foster composition, written in 1853, is 'My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!' It was adopted by the State of Kentucky as its state song in 1928.

Answer: George Washington

When the Second Continental Congress met on May 5th, 1775 it was only 16 days after the battles at Lexington and Concord had erupted on April 19th (the first Continental Congress had met on September 5th, 1774). Whilst some delegates desired immediate independence, others were still loyal to King George III (even though they did not like British taxation without representation).

These disparate views mirrored the divisions in public opinion. They established the Continental Army and on June 15th appointed George Washington as its Commander-in-Chief.

Answer: Cyrus Griffin

The United States of America had a federal government from September 5th, 1774 and functioned as a confederated nation from July 4th, 1776. During those fifteen years Congress (first the Continental Congress and then later the Confederation Congress) was always chaired by a president, elected by the Congress. As the chief executive officer of the government of the United States, the president was recognized as the de facto head of state.

George Washington was the fifteenth (he led the seventeenth administration), but was the first under the current constitution. The first fourteen are sometimes referred to as 'the forgotten presidents'. Peyton Randolph was the first (September 5th, 1774 to October 22nd, 1774), John Hancock was the 4th (May 24th, 1775 to November 1st, 1777), and Nathaniel Gorham was the 3rd last (June 6th, 1786 to February 2nd, 1787). Cyrus Griffin was the last (his term commenced on January 22nd, 1788).

Answer: George Washington

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) was married in Arlington House, now part of Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Mary Ann Custis, was the daughter of the man who built it, George Washington Parke Custis, who was Martha Washington's grandson. Martha, the widow of Daniel Parke Custis, married George Washington in 1759 (George Washington had no children).

Answer: no one

No one would vacate their seat on the bench, as justices on the Supreme Court are appointed for life. Whenever the size of the bench was reduced by Congress, the legislation only applied as and when a vacancy arose i.e. when a vacancy arose a replacement, for the outgoing justice, was not appointed.

Answer: 1863 to 1866

"The size of the Court is not pre-ordained, and changes generally reflect attempts to control the Court. ... During the Civil War, the number of justices increased to ten ostensibly due to the creation of a tenth circuit in the West. This gave Abraham Lincoln his fourth appointment and a chance to secure a pro-Union majority on the bench. Antagonism toward President Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction policies following the Civil War led to a reduction from 10 to 7 justices. After U.S. Grant was elected president, Congress again authorized nine justices."
vide. "Vol 2 of Constitutional Law and Politics" by David O'Brien, pp. 188-189.
This quote supplied by member potterguy.

Answer: False

Missouri was admitted in August 1821, Tennessee in June 1796, Washington in November 1889, and Wisconsin in May 1848.

Answer: the surnames of their wives was Todd

Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd, and James Madison married Dorothy Payne Todd (aka "Dolley" Todd) ... a piece of useless trivia!

Answer: where in the Mississippi River was the State line

An earlier case Louisiana v. Mississippi (1906) traced the use of the thalweg and its foundation in international law as a basis for setting international boundaries when a river forms the border. The 'thalweg line' is the deepest way or valley of a water course, as distinct from the 'channel line' which is the line midway between the banks of a river (which may not necessarily be the thalweg line).

Answer: Bill Scanlon

This is the first, and only, known instance in which a player has won 24 consecutive points: a 'golden set'. Bill Scanlon beat Marcos Hocevar of Brazil 6-2, 6-0 in the WCT Gold Coast Classic at Delray, Florida, on 22nd February 1983.