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Before the Constitution Trivia Quiz

Useless trivia about events before the drafting of the United States Constitution.

A multiple-choice quiz by blakey. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
blakey

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
237,077

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1530

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When the Articles of Confederation were adopted Rhode Island was not referred to as Rhode Island, but what?

Hint

Little Rhodey

State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

R.I.

The Colony of Roger Williams

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which President of the Continental Congress was imprisoned in the Tower of London for fifteen months? Hint

Peyton Randolph

John Hancock

Henry Laurens

Samuel Huntington

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who did the Americans exchange with Britain to get the former President out of the Tower of London? Hint

General Cornwallis

General Oglethorpe

General Howe

The heir to the British throne

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Question 4 of 10

4. Under the Articles of Confederation how long was the term of office for any elected official in the federal government? Hint

one year

three years

two years

four years

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was the Pennsylvania Mutiny about? Hint

American soldiers wanted to go home

Taxes

A mutiny aboard a ship

The state threatened to change sides

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 1783 Army officers conspired to take over the Congress Assembled if their demands over pay were not met. What was this conspiracy called? Hint

The Newburgh Conspiracy

The Gunpowder plot

Conway Cabal

Shay's Rebellion

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the Conway Cabal?
Hint

A type of canon

A plot to have Washington ousted as Commander in Chief

A combat submarine

A type of wagon

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Question 8 of 10

8. What American General burned the city of Richmond, Virginia? Hint

Horatio Gates

Anthony Wayne

Nathaniel Green

Benedict Arnold

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Question 9 of 10

9. What treaty ended the Revolutionary War? Hint

Treaty of London

Treaty of Ghent

Treaty of Paris

Treaty of Versailles

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Question 10 of 10

10. After the Revolution the Continental Army was reduced to what number? Hint

1500

8000

1000

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When the Articles of Confederation were adopted Rhode Island was not referred to as Rhode Island, but what?

Answer: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

That is it's official name. The longest official name in the United States.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/artconf.htm
http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/ri_intro.htm

2. Which President of the Continental Congress was imprisoned in the Tower of London for fifteen months?

Answer: Henry Laurens

It was after his Presidency. He was on a diplomatic mission to Holland when a British frigate intercepted him. After finding a secret agreement between the Americans and the Netherlands on his person, the British arrested him and charged him with treason.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/7/22/1437/96690

3. Who did the Americans exchange with Britain to get the former President out of the Tower of London?

Answer: General Cornwallis

He was a prisoner of war after Yorktown.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/7/22/1437/96690

4. Under the Articles of Confederation how long was the term of office for any elected official in the federal government?

Answer: one year

One year.
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/artconf.htm

5. What was the Pennsylvania Mutiny about?

Answer: American soldiers wanted to go home

The soldiers from Pennsylvania felt they were to be discharged on New Year's Day 1781. When it was explained to them that they were there for the duration of the war they rebelled and marched towards Philadelphia.
http://www.continentalline.org/articles/9504/950401.htm

6. In 1783 Army officers conspired to take over the Congress Assembled if their demands over pay were not met. What was this conspiracy called?

Answer: The Newburgh Conspiracy

It was led by officers from Newburgh, New York. First they tried to recruit Washington who refused, then Knox, who also refused, and finally they recruited Horatio Gates. It ended with a few hundred soldiers marching on Philadelphia. It was after this that Congress Assembled moved to Princeton.
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/fall97/wshngton.html

7. What was the Conway Cabal?

Answer: A plot to have Washington ousted as Commander in Chief

General Horatio Gates was furious over the appointment of Washington as Commander in Chief. He and others wrote letters to Congress asking for Washington's to be removed and replaced by himself.
http://www.ushistory.org/March/other/cabal.htm

8. What American General burned the city of Richmond, Virginia?

Answer: Benedict Arnold

He was also furious over Washington being appointed as Commander in Chief. So incensed was he that he switched sides giving information to the British. Then when he was found out he joined the British Army as a General and burned Richmond.
http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=americanrevolution&month=10272953&day=10272970

9. What treaty ended the Revolutionary War?

Answer: Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Ghent ended the war of 1812, The treaty of Versailles ended World War I, and the Treaty of London does not exist to my knowledge.
http://www.kidport.com/RefLIb/UsaHistory/AmericanRevolution/TreatyParis.htm

10. After the Revolution the Continental Army was reduced to what number?

Answer: 80

Continental Congress did not have the money to maintain it, nor did it trust the military and reduced it to eighty men. They also asked the states to furnish 700 militiamen each, for one year of service at the frontier.
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/COS/3-9.htm

Source: Author blakey

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