Follow Me to Tennessee Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Volunteer State

Tennessee earned the nickname "The Volunteer State" during the War of 1812, when volunteer soldiers serving under General Andrew Jackson displayed marked valor during the Battle of New Orleans. Some believe it earned the nickname at the start of the Mexican War on 1846 - Tennessee sent more volunteers than any other state.

Carrying on the proud volunteer tradition, Tennessee ranks number one in the number of soldiers who fought during the War Between the States (or the War of Northern Aggression).

Answer: The Grand Divisions

Tennessee's Grand Divisions each have distinct geography and culture. East Tennessee contains the Smoky Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountain chain. The largest cities in this area are Knoxville and Chattanooga. Middle Tennessee is separated from the eastern portion of the state by the Cumberland Plateau, and contains rolling hills and valleys. The largest city here is Nashville, which is the state capital. West Tennessee is mostly flatland and mainly agricultural. The largest city in west Tennessee is Memphis.

The Eastern division is known for Appalachian folk music, the Middle for country music and the Western portion of the state has the blues.

Answer: Proclamation of 1763

The Proclamation of 1763 was an acknowledgement that the Indians owned the land on the western side of the mountains, which contained the future state of Tennessee, and prohibited European settlers from moving there. It couldn't be enforced, though, and white setters crossed the mountains to claim land held by the Cherokee Indians in 1770. Long before this proclamation, long hunters, such as Daniel Boone, were already exploring and hunting in the area.

Answer: French Lick

The trading post was established at a spot known as French Lick, where a fresh spring and salt lick attracted animals from all over the area. James Robertson led the overland party; John Donelson led the flatboat group down the Tennessee River and up the Ohio to the Cumberland River and then upstream to join Robertson 's group.

In 1779, Fort Nashborough, named for Revolutionary War General John Nash, was built at French Lick, near the bank of the Cumberland River. From this settlement grew the city of Nashville, which would become the state's capitol.

Answer: June 1, 1796

The Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River, or Southwest Territory, was created by Congress on May 26, 1790, with William Blount as the territorial governor. The territorial capital was originally located at Piney Flats, then moved to Knoxville.

A 1795 census showed that the population of the territory exceeded the 60,000 required for statehood, and a constitution for the new state was submitted to Congress in 1796. After a political struggle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, a compromise was reached between the U.S. House and Senate, and statehood was granted.

Answer: Reelfoot Lake

Starting on December 16, 1811, a series of strong earthquakes and aftershocks occurred in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which includes parts of five states. The first quake was 7.5-7.9 magnitude, but caused only minor damage to man-made structures, due to the sparse population in the area. Three major quakes occurred between December and February, 1812, and were felt across an estimated 1 million square miles. During this quake sequence, the Mississippi River flowed backward for a short period of time, creating Reelfoot Lake.

The shallow lake, located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, is a popular spot for boating, camping, and wildlife watching. It is home to cypress trees, wading birds, and American Bald Eagles. Reelfoot Lake also claims to be the turtle capital of the world.

Answer: True

The Tennessee General Assembly unanimously ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in April, 1865. In 1866, Tennessee became the first of the Confederate states to ratify the 14th Amendment, and shortly after became the first to be readmitted to the Union.

Answer: Dayton

Shortly after the passage of The Butler Act, which forbade the teaching of evolution in any Tennessee public school or university, the American Civil Liberties Union declared that they would fund the defense of any teacher in the state who would fight the act in court. John T. Scopes, a science teacher and football coach, accepted the challenge and read the section on evolution from the state-approved biology textbook to his class. He was arrested and his trial turned the tiny town into a media circus.

Scopes lost the trial and was fined $100. A year later, the ruling was reversed, but the case wasn't re-tried.

Answer: David Farragut

Born in 1801 in Campbell's Station near Knoxville, Farragut was the first rear admiral, vice admiral and full admiral in the United States Navy. Prior to his promotion, the U.S. had eschewed the title of admiral, as it had long been associated with European royalty. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Farragut was residing in Norfolk, Virginia, and was expected to side with the secessionists. Instead, he stood with the Union and proved himself time and again in battle.

During the Battle of Mobile Bay, on August 5, 1864, Farragut faced the choice to retreat or to sail through the minefield the Confederates had placed in the bay. Facing certain death if he stayed put, Farragut issued his immortal order and charged forward. His actions led to the closing of the last major Confederate port on the Gulf of Mexico.

Answer: Ku Klux Klan

The KKK was originally started by bored Confederate veterans as a social club for young men seeking entertainment and amusement. They adopted outlandish rituals including oaths of secrecy, initiations, mystic titles for leaders and costumed ceremonies. They reorganized into a political and terrorist organization in 1867, with former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forest named the first Grand Wizard, and they targeted those who they felt were a threat to white people. State Governor William G. Brownlow targeted the Klan, hoping to arrest and convict KKK leaders and ex-Confederates who were stirring up trouble.

Two years later, after the resignation of Governor Brownlow, Forest believed the group had served its purpose and ordered members to destroy their robes.

The Klan is not one of Tennessee's proudest accomplishments.

The group was revived in Georgia almost 50 years later, and continues to this day to be a feared and hated terror group.