US Presidential Trivia, 1-10 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Parson Weems

Mason Locke Weems, better known as Parson, wrote his most famous book "The Life of Washington" in 1800 that has several Washington myths in it, including the cherry tree incident and Valley Forge stories. Washington Irving, who was named for George Washington, wrote a five volume biography about his namesake, published between 1855 and 1859, long after Parson Weems's work. Peale was a painter known for his portraits of Washington.

Answer: There was no Leap Day in 1800

Leap Years are every four years, except for years that end in "00" and are not divisible by 400. Hence, there was no Feb 29, 1800. Thomas Jefferson's Inauguration was on March 4, 1801. The change of date of Inauguration Day from March 4 to January 20 did not take effect until 1937.

The only other occurrence of no leap day was in 1900; President McKinley served into his second term before being assassinated.

Answer: Adams and Jefferson were from different political parties

Because of the rules of the Electoral College at the time, all electors were given two votes, with the highest two vote-getters becoming President and Vice President respectively. After all the votes were tallied in the election of 1796, John Adams, the Federalist, received the most votes; but his running mate, Thomas Pinckney, received fewer votes than Thomas Jefferson, who headed the Democratic-Republican ticket.

This crisis was not corrected prior to the election of 1800, which became a Constitutional crisis, that election being thrown into the House of Representatives to determine the President.

The 12th Amendment to the Constitution called for separate votes in the Electoral College for both President and Vice President.

Answer: They both died while serving as Vice President

George Clinton (from New York) served as Vice President for Thomas Jefferson's second term of office and as James Madison's first term of office before passing in 1812. The seat remained unfilled until after the election of 1812, when Elbridge Gerry (from Massachusetts) became the Vice President.

He died about 18 months into his term, and would not be replaced until the election of 1816. Both men were Governors (not Senators) of their respective states, and neither signed the Constitution (both were unhappy that the Bill of Rights was not part of the original Constitution).

Answer: Major

James Monroe was wounded in the shoulder in the Battle of Trenton. In the famous painting, "Washington Crossing the Delaware" he is portrayed as the flag-bearer.

Answer: Serving in the House of Representatives

John Quincy Adams was the only former President to serve in the House of Representatives. In fact, he collapsed on the floor of the House in 1848 and died two days later. Andrew Johnson, the 17th President, served in the Senate from his native Tennessee after his term of office.

Answer: The American Revolution

Jackson was 13 years old when he joined a South Carolina regiment as a courier. He and his brother Robert were captured and held as prisoners of war by the British. Both brothers contracted smallpox while imprisoned; Robert died soon after his release, but Andrew survived. Jackson was also a key player in the First Seminole War, but it took place in 1817 and 1818, after the War of 1812 was over.

Answer: He was the first President born an American citizen

Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York, on December 5, 1782, making him the first President born an American citizen. Andrew Jackson, his predecessor, was born in either North or South Carolina (exactly which state has not been settled). Thomas Jefferson was the first Secretary of State to become President, and Van Buren was elected Senator and (briefly) Governor of New York, (as well as Vice President) prior to becoming President.

Answer: A river in present-day Indiana

In 1810 Harrison, the Territorial Governor of Indiana, faced an uprising of several tribes of Native Americans, especially the Shawnee, because of the unfair Fort Wayne Treaty signed between Harrison and the Miami tribe. The Shawnee leader, Tecumseh, asked Harrison to nullify the treaty, which Harrison refused. Tecumseh warned that the other tribes in the area were going to form a confederation to oppose the settling of the areas in that treaty. By 1811, the Secretary of War authorized Harrison to march against the federation with a show of force, as a way of forcing a peace treaty.

Instead, the tribes launched a surprise attack against Harrison's forces on November 6, near the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers. Harrison's troops won the battle against a much smaller attacking force and eventually Harrison was recognized as a American military hero primarily for this battle.

Answer: Tyler had been elected to the House of Representatives of the Confederacy

Tyler was not a popular President, having assumed the Presidency on the death of William Henry Harrison and taking the title of President (although the Constitution did not expressly give him that power, and it wasn't until the 25th Amendment passed in 1967) and moved away from the Whig Party's agenda.

But it was his strict adherence to States' Rights and as a Virginian that led to his not being officially mourned in Washington at his passing. In early 1861, Tyler, as chair of the Virginia Peace Convention, attempted to broker a deal to avoid civil war.

It failed, and when the war started, Tyler, a Virginian, became a member of the Provisional Confederate Congress and eventually was elected to serve as a member of the Confederate House of Representatives.

He died prior to being sworn in, but Washington was not about to officially mourn a man that was a member of an enemy country's government.