US: Interesting and Signficant Facts Quiz

Answer: All were prosecuted for libel under the Sedition Act during the John Adams administration.

It is hard to fathom that in the early days newspapermen were prosucuted and jailed for writing political commentary. Thankfully for freedom of speech, all who were still in jail were pardoned by Thomas Jefferson when he became President in 1801.

Answer: World War II

The U.S. cavalry took part in fighting against the Japanese in the Philippines in January of 1942, just a month after Pearl Harbor.

Answer: Casting the deciding vote against the removal of Andrew Johnson from office.

John F. Kennedy immortalized Ross in his 1954 book 'Profiles in Courage'.

Answer: Horace Greeley

Greeley died after losing to Grant in the 1872 election. Eugene Roseboom comments about that election: 'Never in American history have two more unfit men been offered to the country for the highest office. The simple soldier, inexperienced in statecraft and oblivious to his own blundering, was pitted against the vain, erractic reforming editor whose goodness of heart could not make up for his sad lack of judgment.

The man of no ideas was running against the man of too many.'

Answer: one

Only one in the affirmative at first, a bit more support later, but Lincoln never did obtain any strong support from his Cabinet. Nevertheless, he sent the reinforcements and the Civil War resulted.

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

When Aaron Burr was tried for treason in 1807, he subpoenaed certain documents from President Jefferson which he felt were needed for his defense. Jefferson raised the executive privilege defense, but Chief Justice Marshall ruled that the President was subject to subpoena like anyone else, subject to certain national security protections. Nixon tried to rely on this precedent to withhold the Watergate tapes, but to no avail.

Answer: Teddy Roosevelt

After losing the 1912 Republican nomination to Taft because Taft's forces controlled convention machinery, Teddy ran as a Progressive Party candidate and polled 27 per cent of the vote, more than Taft but not enough to defeat Woodrow Wilson.

Answer: Direct election of Senators

Income taxes was the subject of the 16th Amendment, also ratified in 1913. Prohibition was the 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919. And finally, women's suffrage was the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920.

Answer: Poll taxes

Elimination of the poll tax was an important step to ensuring voting rights for all. D.C. voting rights was the 23rd Amendment, ratified in 1961. Presidential disability and succession was the 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967. And finally, the voting age was lowered to 18 by the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971.

Answer: Al Capone

Capone lived through his long prison term and died in retirement in Florida. The others were all gunned down by law enforcement officers in 1934.