Advanced Placement U.S. History Quiz

Answer: Lake Erie and the Hudson River

Ground was broken on July 4, 1817. It was the third canal project that was built in the United States. The first two, one near Charleston, SC, and the other near Boston, were only about twenty miles long. The Erie Canal was opened in 1825 and connected the Great Lakes with the Hudson River which flows into the Atlantic. Competition from the railroads led to the abandonment of the canal in 1918 although some sections remain in use today as part of the New York Barge Canal.

Answer: Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett was said to have killed over a hundred bears in the wilderness of Tennessee. He also served with General Jackson during the war against the Creek Indians. He was elected to Tennessee Legislature and later to Congress. Davy Crocket quit politics and in 1836 went to Texas to join the men at the Alamo. He was killed at the Battle of the Alamo.

Answer: William Harrison

William Henry Harrison is said to have caught a cold which developed into pneumonia at his inauguration in 1841. He died at the White House thirty one days later. He was succeeded by John Tyler.

Answer: John Sutter

John Sutter owned a sawmill and a large amount of land about fifty miles from Sacramento, California. One day James Marshall, who was an employee of Sutter, found some gold in a stream. Rumors spread that gold could be found in abundance at that place and people came to California from as far away as the east coast.

Answer: In the Washington, D.C. train station

Garfield was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station in Washington, D.C. on July 2, 1881. Charles Guiteau, a crazed and disappointed office seeker from New York, was arrested and later executed. Garfield died from his wounds on September 19, 1881.

Answer: During the Civil War he was promoted to the rank of general at the age of 23

Custer was originally assigned to General McClellan's command as a captain. Three days before the Battle of Gettysburg, at the age of 23, Custer was promoted to the rank of brevet Brigadier General. After the Civil War Custer fought in several battles against the Indians in the midwest and eventually was killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Answer: Harry Houdini

Houdini was the son of a Hungarian rabbi. Early in his career he was a trapeze artist. Later he became an expert at escaping from improbable situations such as handcuffs, locked containers, from underwater situations, and from straitjackets. He also became involved in proving that spiritualists were frauds.

Answer: The use of submarine warfare by Germany

President Wilson had hoped to keep the United States out of the war. Germany had promised to stop sinking unarmed merchant ships on the high seas but broke that promise. Wilson addressed Congress on April 1, 1917 and asked for a declaration of war against Germany.

Answer: A place where the average U.S. citizen grew crops to support his family

The formation of Victory Gardens was promoted by the government. Those who lived in homes could use their own property but in the cities large patches of land were used and those living in apartment houses staked out a claim to a piece of land. The crops that were grown were intended for each family so that other food could be sent overseas to support the troops. Victory Gardens were used in both WW I and WW II.

Answer: At Blair House

In 1950 the White House was being renovated and the First Family had to move across the street to Blair House which was a townhouse-type structure that was used to house visiting dignitaries. On November 1, 1950 two Puerto Rican men, who supported independence for Puerto Rico, approached the house from opposite ends of the sidewalk and opened fire on the police officers outside. President Truman was napping on the second floor and went to a window and observed the gunfight on the street below. A police officer and one of the assassins were killed during this incident.