The Early Americas Trivia Quiz

Answer: Moved the line westwards in Portugal's favor

The line of demarcation had been drawn by Alexander VI, so Portugal and Spain could claim land without interference. King John II thought it favored Spain, and so he negotiated an agreement with Spain which resulted in the Treaty of Tordesillas. This moved the 'line' to the west in the Americas. Extension of the 'line' right round the world had to wait till 1529.

Answer: Hernando Cortes

Montezuma was the leader of the Aztecs. Amerigo Vespucci had absolutely nothing to do with the conquest of the Aztecs. Francisco Pizarro was the conquerer of the Incas. Hernando Cortes had fewer men, but he had guns and horses, which the Aztecs feared. Many Aztecs caught smallpox and died, which weakened them militarily.

Answer: True

Columbus wanted to sail to Asia to trade with merchants and find gold. He went the 'wrong way' because his calculations about the distance were much more optimistic than those made by others. The notion that at that time mariners and astronomers thought the Earth was flat is just an urban legend.

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

George Washington was the First President of the United States. He appointed several trustworthy men to help him oversee the country's early development. Those people are known as the cabinet. Henry Knox was Secretary of War, Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury, and Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State.

Answer: The establishment of new colonial territory in the Americas

The Monroe Doctrine stated that the Americas were closed to new colonization. It warned that European efforts to establish new colonies would be considered "dangerous to our peace and safety."

Answer: Henry Clay

During the election of 1824, there was some national debate over who was going to become president. New England favored John Quincy Adams, the South favored William Crawford, and the West favored Henry Clay. John Quincy Adams won the election because Henry Clay gave all of his votes to him, enabling him to win, even though Andrew Jackson won in the popular vote and the electoral college.

Answer: John Wilkes Booth

Abraham Lincoln was watching a play in Ford's Theater. John Wilkes Booth went up into Lincoln's balcony and shot him in the back of the head. He jumped off the balcony and broke his leg. Although his leg was broken, he still escaped.

Answer: Battle of Gettysburg

The Union won the Battle of Gettysburg. So many people died in this battle. Some people say this battle was so bloody, the rivers ran red. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the American Revolutionary War.

Answer: True

Robert E. Lee defected from the North to join the South. He was one of the best generals in the South.

Answer: Battle of Fort Sumter

The bombardment of Fort Sumter heralded the start of the war. The fort belonged to the Union, but was in Confederate territory, so it was attacked. The North retreated.