20th-Century History in the 1900s Quiz

Answer: 8

The rebellion that started on November 2, 1899, was against imperialism, foreigners, and Christianity, and was supported by Qing Empire. The boxers who were trained in Chinese martial arts believed they were invincible against the foreign weapons went around to harass Christian missionaries and foreigners. On September 7, 1901, the rebellion was put down by alliance of eight nations that consisted of the British Empire, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, United States, Austria-Hungary, and Japan.

Answer: Buffalo

William McKinley (1843-1901), the 25th U.S. president, was assassinated at Buffalo, New York, by anarchist Leon Czolgosz, who shot him twice in the abdomen. McKinley was attending the Pan-American exposition at the Temple of Music in Buffalo, New York. He was succeeded by his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt.

Answer: Panama Canal

The United States Army continued the construction of the Panama Canal, which was initially started by the French from 1881 to 1894. The French abandoned the project after losing a lot of money, and an estimated 22,000 men lost their lives. It took the U.S. Army 10 years to complete the canal.

Answer: Philippines

The Philippine-American War was fought from February 4, 1899, to July 2, 1902. The First Philippine Republic was against the United States taking over their country under the Treaty of Paris. Spain had to hand over their colony, the Philippines, to the American after losing the Spanish-American war to the United States.

The war ended with the American's victory, however, hostilities continued in remote areas until the final defeat on June 15, 1913.

Answer: Tour de France

The Tour de France was held for the first on July 1, 1903. The competition was held from July 1-19 in six stages over 2,428 km (1,509 mi). The French took the first three places. Maurice Garin (1871-1957) was the first winner of the competition.

Answer: Russia and Japan

The Russo-Japanese War was fought from February 8, 1904, to September 9, 1905. Japan began a surprise attack on Port Arthur, a naval base in Liaodong Province leased to Russia by China. After the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Japan feared Russian expansion into Manchuria and Korea.

The war ended with a Japanese victory. The Treaty of Portsmouth was signed with the mediation brokered by President Theodore Roosevelt, an act for which he was awarded the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize.

Answer: Korea

After the Japanese victory over the Russians during the Russo-Japanese War, the Japan-Korea Treaty was made. Korea was deprived of its diplomatic sovereignty and came under the protection of Japan. Korea was under the protection of the Qing Dynasty of China until it was defeated by Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. Further treaties were signed in 1907 and 1910.

It was only after Japan's defeat in 1945 during the WWII that Korea was no longer a protectorate.

Answer: William Taft

Republican candidate William Taft defeated William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate, 321 electoral votes to 162. William Taft served as the 25th American president for one term from 1909 to 1913. He subsequently became the Chief Justice of the United States from 1921 to 1930.

Answer: Pu Yi (Xuantong)

Puiyi (1906-1967) was about 2 years old when he was put on the throne. The Qing Dynasty fell in 1912 after the Xinhai Revolution. From 1934 until the end of the Sino-Japanese War in 1945, he was the emperor of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo (Manchuria).

At the Tokyo trials, he was sentenced to jail as a war criminal for 10 years. He was spared the execution by Chairman Mao, as Mao realized that Puyi was more valuable as a reformed commoner than an executed emperor. He married a commoner, Li Shuxian, in 1962.

Answer: Official launch of Henry Ford's Model T

Marconi's radio transmission over the Atlantic was achieved in December 1901. The Wright Brothers first successful flight of airplane was achieved in 1903. Einstein's relativity theory was published in 1905. Henry Ford's Model T was launched in 1908 which was built from 1908 until 1927. Henry Ford made Model T into a practical and affordable for the common man. The car was known for its low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance.