Obscure U. S. History #1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Emperor Joshua Norton I

He tried to corner the rice market on the West Coast and lost everything he had due to trade restrictions at the time. He lost his mind blaming the U.S. Government for his demise. He wrote to a San Fransisco Paper demanding the U.S. Government cease and desist from its operation.

When told they were still meeting he ordered General Winfield Scott to take troops to Washington and clear the halls of the infidels. Scott laughed and threw the order in the waste paper basket.

Answer: Mayaguez

U.S. Marines were sent in to rescue the forty man crew.

Answer: John Hancock

John Hancock is referred to as the first "President under the Articles of Confederation" and served from 1781-82 (John Hanson was the first President of the Confederation Congress).

George Washington was obviously the first under the Constitution, Peyton Randolph was the first President of the Continental Congress and Arthur St. Clair was another President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation.

Answer: Maryland

Maryland initially refused to sign because they felt that New York and Virginia held too much land and that that would give them too much power under the Articles of Confederation. Maryland wanted them split up.

Answer: Pueblo

The crew was tortured daily and held for a considerable amount of time.

Answer: Liberty

She was mistaken for an Egyptian ship that was shelling Israeli troops inland. It created a deep rift between the two countries at the time. The big question that remains today is "was the liberty flying her colors?" The Israelis say no but the captain said yes.

Answer: George Washington

After the American Revolution the Continental Army had not been paid and marched on the capital demanding their money or else they were going to make Washington King.

Answer: 1904 St. Louis

The winner of the Marathon race was stripped of his medal after other contestants said he got a ride, the second winner was stripped of his medal also after another controversy and the third declared winner was too weak to accept!

Answer: David Rice Atchison

Okay, here we go. President elect Taylor refused to be sworn in on a Sunday for religious reasons. Polk's term expired at twelve noon Sunday and so did his Vice President. So David Rice Atchison being President Pro Temp of the Senate became President for the Twenty Four hour period. He was never officially sworn in and spent the day gardening.

Answer: The Peshtigo fire

The Peshtigo fire in Northern Wisconsin took more than one thousand lives and burned nearly 1.25 million acres of land. All that was left of the town of Peshtigo was one building. It took one hour for the town to burn down. People were drowned after trying to escape the intense heat by jumping into rivers or they were boiled alive.

Others suffocated, hiding in wells. Several hundred more were reported as missing and some of the remains found are still unidentified to this day. The fire started when railroad workers were clearing land for a depot. Ironically the Peshtigo fire happened the same day as the Great Chicago fire, October of 1871.