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March 21st Trivia Quiz

Often the day of the vernal equinox (first day of Spring) and an important date for many historic events and a special day for many people (for my daughter, who was born on this day).

A multiple-choice quiz by Oddball. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Oddball

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
261,749

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
718

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This Archbishop of Canterbury was pivotal during the reign of Henry VIII and Edward VI in moving England towards the Reformation. It was for this he was executed as a heretic March 21, 1556. Who was he? Hint

Thomas Becket

Geoffrey Plantagenet

William Warham

Thomas Cranmer

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Question 2 of 10

2. March 21st was a big day during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, but which of the following events did NOT occur on that day? Hint

The Napoleonic Code is adopted as French civil law

The coronation of Pope Pius VII

The Battle of Alexandria

Marriage to the Empress Josephine

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following musical talents was NOT born on March 21st? Hint

Kevin Federline

Johann Sebastian Bach

Franz Schubert

Modest Mussorgsky

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Question 4 of 10

4. One of the biggest moments in U.S. television history started March 21, 1980. What show had tongues wagging for most of the year? Hint

'The Thorn Birds'

'Rescue from Gilligan's Island'

'Dallas'

'Roots'

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Question 5 of 10

5. A Baptist preacher named William Miller predicted that on March 21, either in 1843 or 1844, something major would happen. What? Hint

God would reveal the ultimate truth

Jesus would be elected World President

Angels would appear in the world capitals

The second coming of Christ (i.e. the end of the world)

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Question 6 of 10

6. On March 21, 1891, it took a marriage to end what long-running squabble? Hint

The Campbell-McDonald feud

The Hatfield-McCoy feud

The Capulet-Montague feud

The Mason-Dixon feud

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Question 7 of 10

7. One of the biggest military operations in World War I started on March 21, 1918 along what river? Hint

The Danube

The Seine

The Somme

The Rhone

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Question 8 of 10

8. The first of these music festivals was held March 21, 1952 at the Cleveland (OH) Arena. What was the main attraction? Hint

Jazz

Country and Western

Blues

Rock and Roll

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Question 9 of 10

9. San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto proclaimed the first of this 'green holiday' on March 21, 1970. What was it? Hint

Arbor Day

Earth Day

Wilderness Day

Ride-Your-Horse-To-Work Day

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Question 10 of 10

10. Do you believe in reincarnation? Have you ever found someone who died on the same day someone else was born? My daughter was born on March 21, 1997. Which children's author died that same day? Hint

Eloise Wilkin

Dr. Seuss

Reverend W. Audry

Beatrix Potter

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Thomas Cranmer

It was Thomas Cranmer who dissolved the marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, against the wishes of the Pope. As a reward, Henry made Cranmer the god-father of the next queen's child (that queen was Anne Boleyn, the child was the future Elizabeth I).

After Henry and Edward's death, Queen Mary I ('Bloody Mary) tried to return England to the Roman Catholic fold. When Cranmer refused to go along, he was burned at the stake.

2. March 21st was a big day during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, but which of the following events did NOT occur on that day?

Answer: Marriage to the Empress Josephine

Napoleon and Josephine were married on March 9, 1796.

Pius VII was crowned in Venice, Italy, on March 21, 1800, after the death of Pius VI, who was virtually a prisoner in France. Because Napoleon held on to the Papal Tiara, the new Pope was crowned with one made of papier-mache.

3. Which of the following musical talents was NOT born on March 21st?

Answer: Franz Schubert

Schubert, author of the famous 'Unfinished Symphony' was born January 31, 1797.

4. One of the biggest moments in U.S. television history started March 21, 1980. What show had tongues wagging for most of the year?

Answer: 'Dallas'

It was on this night that evil J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) was shot on the season finale of the prime-time soap 'Dallas'. Fan had to wait through eight interminable months (including a seven-week actors' strike) to find out that Kirsten Shephard (Mary Crosby) was the guilty party.

5. A Baptist preacher named William Miller predicted that on March 21, either in 1843 or 1844, something major would happen. What?

Answer: The second coming of Christ (i.e. the end of the world)

Reverend Miller and his followers, called 'Millerites' (the forerunners of the Advent Christian and Seventh-Day Adventist faiths) waited through that year prepared for the worst. When nothing happened, Miller readjusted his calendar for October 22, 1844. That day became known as 'the Great Disappointment' and many of Miller's followers left his fold. Miller died on December 20, 1849, never failing in his belief Christ was coming soon.

6. On March 21, 1891, it took a marriage to end what long-running squabble?

Answer: The Hatfield-McCoy feud

It started in Kentucky and West Virginia as a question over the ownership of a hog in 1873. By 1891, more than a dozen people on both sides of the famous 'family feud' were dead. An official truce was signed between the families in Pikeville, Kentucky on June 14, 2003, although hostilities all but ceased a hundred years before.

7. One of the biggest military operations in World War I started on March 21, 1918 along what river?

Answer: The Somme

The German Spring Offensive (a.k.a. the Second Battle of the Somme) began near Saint-Quentin. It was an attempt by German General Erich Ludendorf to move troops from the now-defunct Russian front and take out Britain and France before large numbers of American troops arrived.

The advance was one of the largest since the war began in 1914, but not enough to break the Allied line. The German Navy was unable to slow the American Expeditionary Force movement into the European theatre.

8. The first of these music festivals was held March 21, 1952 at the Cleveland (OH) Arena. What was the main attraction?

Answer: Rock and Roll

Hosted by Alan Freed, who first coined the phrase 'rock and roll', the Moondog Coronation Ball was supposed to feature Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams, the Dominoes, Tiny Grimes of the Rockin' Highlanders and more. Unfortunately, Williams was only able to get out one song before the fire marshalls raided the venue.

It seems the tickets were being duplicated, so more the twice the 10,000 capacity arrived to see the show.

9. San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto proclaimed the first of this 'green holiday' on March 21, 1970. What was it?

Answer: Earth Day

The actual date of the first Earth Day was April 22.

Answer: Reverend W. Audry

Reverend Audry was the author of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' series.

Source: Author Oddball

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