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American Colonial History Trivia Quiz

This quiz focuses on life in the colonies, New England, the Middle Colonies, Chesapeake Bay Colonies and the Lower South. It touches on various aspects of living in colonial times; religious, political, and military.

A multiple-choice quiz by CliftonClowers. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
CliftonClowers

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
330,671

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1181

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In the 17th century, under a 'headright' system in the American colonies, a person received a grant of land in a colony: Hint

for military service

for settling there

for political service

for ministerial service

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the term for citizens enrolled as a regular military force, but called into active duty only in an emergency? Hint

brigade

militia

infantry

cavalry

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name of the State created in 1786 which lasted for only four years? Hint

State of Franklin

State of Madison

State of Adams

State of Jefferson

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the predominant church in the colonial South? Hint

Congregational

Quaker

Church of England

Presbyterian

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who founded the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations? Hint

Roger Williams

Thomas Rogers

William Rogers

John Brown

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers traveling from the East to Kentucky. Who is credited with blazing out the Wilderness Road in 1775 through the Cumberland Gap? Hint

Davy Crockett

Meriwether Lewis

Daniel Boone

William Clark

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Question 7 of 10

7. During the years immediately preceding the Revolutionary War, Virginia claimed and extended its jurisdiction over a part of which other state? Hint

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

North Carolina

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Question 8 of 10

8. What modern-day military organization was formed in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service? Hint

United States Marine Corps

United States Coast Guard

United States Merchant Marines

United States Navy

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Declaration of Independence has 56 signers. Which state had the most signers? Hint

Massachusetts

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Virginia

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the 13 English colonies was founded by religious dissenters? Hint

Connecticut

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the 17th century, under a 'headright' system in the American colonies, a person received a grant of land in a colony:

Answer: for settling there

A headright is the right to a certain number of acres of land for each person ("head") for the promotion of settlement in a colony.

2. What is the term for citizens enrolled as a regular military force, but called into active duty only in an emergency?

Answer: militia

Brigades, infantry, and cavalry are parts of a military force, while a militia is the entire force.

3. What was the name of the State created in 1786 which lasted for only four years?

Answer: State of Franklin

The State of Franklin was set up in 1786 from the western portion of North Carolina. Four years later, it merged with Tennessee.

4. What was the predominant church in the colonial South?

Answer: Church of England

The Church of England was the church recognized by law when the colonies were first settled. As Puritans began to arrive, a different church was desired, so people began to dissent away from the Church of England, especially in the New England colonies. Divisions in the Church of England caused the formation of the Congregational Church which became the predominant church for New England in the colonial era.

At the time of the Revolutionary War, Quakers constituted about 2% of those with religious affiliation.

The first Presbyterians came in the 17th century and were a small population. The Church of England in the colonial era remained the predominant established church in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

5. Who founded the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations?

Answer: Roger Williams

Roger Williams was the first American supporter of freedom of religion and separation of church and state. He founded Rhode Island to provide a refuge for religious minorities. He started, in Providence, the First Baptist Church in America.

6. The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers traveling from the East to Kentucky. Who is credited with blazing out the Wilderness Road in 1775 through the Cumberland Gap?

Answer: Daniel Boone

Starting on March 10, 1775 Daniel Boone and 35 axmen cut a trail from Tennessee through the forests and mountains of the Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. This road was used for fifty years.

7. During the years immediately preceding the Revolutionary War, Virginia claimed and extended its jurisdiction over a part of which other state?

Answer: Pennsylvania

Virginia claimed southwestern Pennsylvania - what have become the counties of Fayette, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene, and parts of Allegheny and Beaver.

8. What modern-day military organization was formed in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service?

Answer: United States Coast Guard

The Revenue Cutter Service was created by Alexander Hamilton as an armed revenue service. It merged with the Life-Saving Service to become the United States Coast Guard in 1915. Later, the Lighthouse Service was merged into the United States Coast Guard.

9. The Declaration of Independence has 56 signers. Which state had the most signers?

Answer: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania had 9 signers, Virginia had 7, Massachusetts and New Jersey had 5. Of the 56 signers, 30 were involved in the legal profession.

10. Which of the 13 English colonies was founded by religious dissenters?

Answer: Rhode Island

Rhode Island was founded by religious dissenters who were forced to flee the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Source: Author CliftonClowers

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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