The Midwest - State Connections Quiz | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1803 the United States purchased what was known as the Louisiana Territory from France. Land that later formed many Midwest states was included in the sale. Which of the following states contains land NOT included in the Louisiana Purchase?

Answer: Kansas

Parts of the states of Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma were still claimed by Spain in 1803. Louisiana would have made a much more ironic answer, but it isn't in the Midwest. The Louisiana Purchase contained land of 14 modern states - that is, all or part of the Midwestern states of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, North and South Dakota; also, all or part of Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming) and parts of two Canadian provinces. [Question by Duchess716]

2. The Midwest suffered from the most powerful intraplate earthquake in the continental United States. It occurred on February 7, 1812. Where was the quake epicenter located?

Answer: New Madrid, MO

Three previous quakes of similar, but slightly less magnitude, shook the region from December 16, 1811 through January 23, 1812. The small town of New Madrid was destroyed in the February quake. Damage would have been much worse if the area had been more densely settled.

The course of the Mississippi River was changed and Reelfoot Lake was formed. The quakes rang church bells in Boston, MA. [Question by Duchess716]

3. The Michigan Territory contained all or part of 6 or 7 states before Michigan statehood. Which Midwest state was NOT included in the Territory?

Answer: Missouri

Missouri was not included in the Michigan Territory. From 1833 to 1836 the Michigan Territory included what is now Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, parts of North and South Dakota, and the Toledo Strip in contention with Ohio. [Question dedicated to Mariboo & Jaly]

4. The Toledo War was a long fought series of battles, mostly of words and threats, between the state of Ohio and the Michigan Territory. Which of the following Civil War Generals had a part in the Toledo War?

Answer: Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee took part in the third survey of the Ordinance Line, the boundary between Ohio and Michigan, in 1832-35. The Toledo War was fought over a 450 square mile strip, which included the present day city of Toledo, Ohio. The area was disputed by Ohio and Michigan Territory until Michigan agreed to a land settlement and was granted statehood in 1837.

The War was mostly fought in the 1830s, but the origin of the conflict occurred as early as 1787. People were injured and jailed in the War, but no deaths are attributed to the conflict. A 1973 US Supreme Court decision was needed to finalize the actual boundary line. [Question dedicated to Timthered61 & Mooiemooie2]

5. The Wisconsin Territory was carved out of the Michigan Territory around the time of Michigan statehood. What city became the third territorial capital in 1838?

Answer: Madison, WI

Madison, Wisconsin became the third capital of the Wisconsin Territory after the Iowa Territory was created in 1838. The first territorial capital was Belmont. The second capital was Burlington. [Question dedicated to Catjuggler & Spaudrey]

6. Opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act lead to the formation of a new US political party. Which one?

Answer: The Republican Party

Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois drafted the Kansas-Nebraska Act, originally to facilitate the developement of a transcontinental railroad. Provisions for popular sovereignty were added, which allowed the new states to ban or establish slavery as they chose. The act was passed into law on May 30, 1854.

The Republican Party was formed in opposition to the act and to oppose the expansion of slavery in the United States. The Party was founded at a meeting in Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1854. It soon became a major force in US politics with the election of Republican presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln, in 1860.

The modern Democratic Party was founded in 1828. Its roots go back to at least 1792.

The Free Soil Party was a short lived third party active in the 1840s and 1850s. It was formed to support the anti-slavery movement in the western territories.

The Know Nothing (or American) Party was another third party active in the 1840s and 1850s. It was formed because of fears of Irish Catholic political dominance. [Question dedicated to Anyoun2 & Hobbes1138]

7. The Mississippi River divides the US and the Midwest in half. The first railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi was built 1n 1856. Two weeks after the bridge opened, an incident occurred. What happened?

Answer: A steamboat rammed the bridge and caused a fire.

Two weeks after the bridge was opened to rail traffic the steamboat, 'Effie Afton,' hit the bridge and caused a fire. Lawsuits were filed. Abraham Lincoln defended the railroad in the case. The US Surpreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the railroad.

The bridge spanned the Mississippi from Arsenal Island, Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa, and opened the way for rapid transit across the mighty river.

The first bridge across the Mississippi River for foot and carriage traffic was built in 1855 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [Question suggested by Sak57]

8. The Dakota War was fought in 1862 between bands of the Dakota/Sioux Nation, and US settlers and soldiers in Minnesota and the Dakota Territory. What was NOT a cause of the War?

Answer: Native American independence movements

The mounting cost of the US Civil War caused treaty payments to the Dakota/Sioux to be delayed. Agents and traders who dealt with the tribes refused to extend additional credit. Crop failures due to bad weather threatened the Dakota with starvation. Independence wasn't a factor in the Dakota War, although many of the Dakota wanted the settlers to leave the hereditary Dakota/Sioux lands.

At the end of the conflict, 425 Dakota tribesmen were tried for murder and rape. Of those, 303 were sentenced to death. Clemency was given to all but 38, who were hanged in a mass execution. Many of the rest died of disease in captivity. [Question dedicated to 800m_Man & Malarson]

9. The James Gang were equal-opportunity thieves. They had reported robberies in half of the Midwest states. Where was their most famous failure, which took place on September 7, 1876?

Answer: Northfield, MN

The Northfield Raid failed when citizens recognized a robbery was taking place and attacked the bandits. Several of the gang were killed and others were captured, including Cole Younger. The James Brothers escaped to rob again. Their last train robbery was exactly five years after the Northfield attempt. The James Gang had reported robberies in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota. They also struck places in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky and perhaps other states.

Jesse James was killed by Bob Ford April 3, 1882, for a substantial reward. Frank James surrendered and was twice acquitted in trials in Missouri. He died at 72 in 1915. Cole Younger also lived to age 72 and died in 1916. [Question dedicated to Sheriffmarge & Shoemike]

10. Between North Dakota and South Dakota, which state was admitted to the Union first?

Answer: Nobody really knows

On November 2, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the two statehood proclamations before signing them saying "They were born together -- they are one, and I will make them twins." No one really knows in which order he signed them. By virtue of alphabetical order North Dakota is considered the 39th state and South Dakota the 40th. [Question by Eunice2]

Source: Author JMElston

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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The Midwest - State Connections Quiz

The Midwest has a long and colorful history. Here are some interesting questions by the USA Midwest Players Team. They connect the 12 states of the Midwest. How well do you know the region's history?

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