Historical People III: American Figures Trivia Game | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This general of the Continental Army had many accomplishments. These included: fighting in the battle of Ridgefield, capturing Fort Ticonderoga, and major actions and involvement in the Battle of Saratoga. It was during this last battle that he suffered leg injuries that made him a hero at the time. Despite these achievements he was passed up for promotion by the Continental Congress.

Answer: Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was a hero before his betrayal. He had several accomplishments within the Continental Army that distinguished him ahead of others. He was passed over for promotion to Major General in 1777 due to Congress. Washington made an appeal requesting promotions on merit rather than politics in the future due to this incident. Arnold had tried several times to resign from military service, but his request was denied by Washington. Eventually several factors would come into play that would lead to his betrayal of America and defection to the British.

Nathanael Greene was one of Washington's most trusted generals, he rose from the rank of militia private (the lowest rank) all the way to major general.

2. This US president was the last president to hold slaves and the first president elected from the state of Louisiana.

Answer: Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor was a general known as "Old Rough and Ready." Though born in Virginia, he was elected from Louisiana. He had a plantation on which he kept slaves and was also the last Whig elected to office. Millard Fillmore was Zachary Taylor's successor and James K. Polk was his predecessor.

3. This Scottish-American industrialist had his first job as a factory worker in a bobbin factory. He would grow up to become one of the richest men in American history, mainly thanks to his involvement in the steel industry.

Answer: Andrew Carnegie

All of these men were "robber barons" who made their fortunes from strangleholds on American business. Carnegie is a true rags to riches story; with his company Carnegie Steel he was known for his philanthropic endeavors as well as for his mass fortune.

John D. Rockefeller was the richest person in history (taking into consideration inflation) and had a near monopoly on the oil industry. Crocker and Vanderbilt both made their fortunes from the railroad industry.

4. This American Rock Star was known for songs like "Suspicious Minds," "Blue Moon," and "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You."

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley's music and styles were radical in his day. He was immensely popular but did not write his own songs.

Mick Jagger is the lead singer of The Rolling Stones, and British born. Elvis once had an unrequited love interest in Cher. Gene Simmons is one of the lead vocalists of the rock band KISS.

5. This American author wrote the novel "The Great Gatsby."

Answer: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Francis Scott Fitzgerald wrote the novel "The Great Gatsby," a great novel about the American dream.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote "The Scarlet Letter". Herman Melville wrote "Moby Dick". Upton Sinclair wrote "The Jungle" which inspired Theodore Roosevelt to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act.

6. This American entrepeneur (born September 13, 1857 and died October 13, 1945) built a whole town for his employees that is now a popular vacation destination.

Answer: Milton S. Hershey

Hershey, Pennsylvania is a popular tourist destination today, and was all due to the work of philanthropist and businessman Milton Hershey. He worked hard to improve the town for his employees, adding attractions for leisure, inexpensive public transportation systems, and more besides.

Orlando Reeves was a soldier who died during the Second Seminole War and the supposed origin for the name Orlando, Florida.

7. This former actor turned politician is largely credited with bringing down the Soviet Union, and is well remembered for his famous quote: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan is famous for this and for many other quotes including: "The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted, it belongs to the brave," and "A few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not" and of course, "If a tax hike makes it to my desk, I'll veto it in less time than it takes Vanna White to turn the letters V-E-T-O!"

8. This CIA operative was the son of a Greek-American soda maker, and a prime figure in the book "Charlie Wilson's War".

Answer: Gust Avrakotos

Gust Avrakotos, along with Charlie Wilson, was a prime figure in aiding the Afghans through the CIA Pillsbury, which provided help to the Afghans by persuading Ronald Reagan to provide Stingers to the Afghans.

George Byron, better known as Lord Byron was a British poet and war hero in the Greek War of Independence. Antigonus was a ruler of who fought against the Gauls in antiquity.

9. Who was the chief engineer during the construction of the Hoover Dam?

Answer: Frank Crowe

Although technically Frank Crowe isn't American born, his contributions to America as the chief engineer make him a true American figure as well. Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved the dam's construction during the Great Depression.

Frank Weymouth gave a lecture which inspired Crowe to pursue a career in the American West. Jay Bennedict portrayed Crowe in the mini-series "Seven Wonders of the Industrial World."

10. This Lakota holy man was a key figure at the Battle of Little Bighorn in defeating George Armstrong Custer. Before the battle he had a premonition that his people would defeat Custer's cavalry.

Answer: Sitting Bull

All these men except Little Wolf fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn, but Sitting Bull was the great leader who had a premonition of Custer's defeat. He would also briefly tour in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. This great Native American would die during an arrest attempt due to his support of the "Ghost Dance."

Source: Author RockBou

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Historical People III: American Figures Quiz

Continuing the Historical People series, this quiz focuses on the most famous and infamous people in American History.

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