It Didn't Happen That Day Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pakistan gained independence from Britain

"The Wizard of Oz" premiered on August 15, 1939. Woodstock ran from August 15-17, 1969 (actually into the morning of August 18). India gained independence on August 15, 1947 while Pakistan gained independence one day earlier on August 14.

Answer: The US declared war on Germany

John Lennon was shot in front of his apartment building on December 8, 1980. On December 8, 1953, President Eisenhower delivered a speech to the UN General Assembly urging peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The US entered World War II by declaring war on Japan on December 8, 1941, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

However, war wasn't declared against Germany until three days later. The US had previously declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917 when entering World War I.

Answer: The space shuttle Challenger exploded

Martin Luther King, Jr was born on January 15, 1929. Super Bowl I where the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs took place on January 15, 1967. Wikipedia went online on January 15, 2001. Challenger exploded a little over a minute after liftoff on January 28, 1986.

Answer: Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought

Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865 and died the following morning. The Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and sank very early the following day. Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color line on April 15, 1947. Paul Revere's famous midnight ride began on April 18, 1775 with the battles of Lexington and Concord beginning the American Revolution the following day.

Answer: Live Aid concert took place

Charles Guiteau shot President Garfield on July 2, 1881. Garfield died from his wounds two months later on September 19. Amelia Earhart was attempting to fly around the world and was last heard from on July 2, 1937 when she left New Guinea headed toward the Pacific Ocean.

The Civil Rights Act was signed on July 2, 1964. The Live Aid concert took place in London and Philadelphia on July 13, 1985.

Answer: Sputnik, the first manmade satellite was launched

Both "Dr. No" and "Love Me Do" were released on October 5, 1962. Seven years later, on October 5, 1969, Monty Python was first unleashed on the world. Sputnik missed joining these by one day. It was launched on October 4, 1957.

Answer: Germany signed the armistice ending World War I

Thomas Edison announced the phonograph on November 21, 1877. The Verrazano-Narrows bridge between Brooklyn and Staten Island opened on November 21, 1964 and at the time was the world's longest suspension bridge. The ARPANET, a predecessor of the internet, had its first permanent link established on November 21, 1969. Germany signed the armistice which ended World War I on November 11, 1918.

Answer: First Indianapolis 500 was run

Hoover became head of the FBI on May 10, 1924. Bill Haley and His Comets released "Rock Around the Clock", the first rock song to become a number one hit in the US on May 10, 1954. Nelson Mandela became South Africa's leader on May 10, 1994. The first Indianapolis 500 was run on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911.

Answer: Seven men were shot dead in a Chicago garage

February 3, 1913 saw the ratification of the income tax amendment. February 3, 1959 became "the day the music died" when a plane carrying three rock and roll stars crashed in an Iowa cornfield. On February 3, 1966, the Soviet spacecraft, Luna 9, successfully landed on the moon and began sending back pictures of the lunar surface.

In 1929, seven men were shot in a gang related incident that became known as the St. Valentine's day massacre, which of course took place on February 14.

Answer: Allied invasion of Normandy

Kentucky and Tennessee became the fifteenth and sixteenth states on June 1, 1792 and 1796 respectively. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released by The Beatles on June 1, 1967. Cable News Network was first broadcast on June 1, 1980. The Allies invaded Normandy to establish a foothold in western Europe on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day.