How well do you know American history? From the early days of the 13 colonies to the modern era, the history of the United States is filled with wars, revolutions, influential leaders, and historic moments that have shaped the nation and the world.
Think you’re an expert on U.S. history? Test yourself with this challenging quiz and see if you can answer these 50+ questions about America’s past!
📝 How to Play:
- Try to answer each question without looking up the answer.
- Keep track of how many you get right.
- Scroll down to check your answers and see how well you did!
🏛️ The Colonial Era & The American Revolution
1️⃣ Who was the first European explorer to reach North America?
2️⃣ What was the first permanent English settlement in America?
3️⃣ Which colony was founded by the Pilgrims in 1620?
4️⃣ What was the name of the British tax that led to the Boston Tea Party?
5️⃣ Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
6️⃣ In what year did the U.S. declare independence from Britain?
7️⃣ Which battle was the turning point of the American Revolution?
8️⃣ What treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War?
9️⃣ Who was the first President of the United States?
📜 The U.S. Constitution & The Early Republic
🔟 What was the first governing document of the U.S. before the Constitution?
1️⃣1️⃣ How many amendments are in the Bill of Rights?
1️⃣2️⃣ What are the first three words of the U.S. Constitution?
1️⃣3️⃣ Who is known as the “Father of the Constitution”?
1️⃣4️⃣ What was the Louisiana Purchase?
1️⃣5️⃣ Who was the first Vice President of the United States?
1️⃣6️⃣ Which two political parties were the first to emerge in U.S. history?
⚔️ The Civil War & Reconstruction
1️⃣7️⃣ Who was the President of the U.S. during the Civil War?
1️⃣8️⃣ What was the main cause of the Civil War?
1️⃣9️⃣ What document issued by Abraham Lincoln freed enslaved people in Confederate states?
2️⃣0️⃣ Which state was the first to secede from the Union?
2️⃣1️⃣ What battle is considered the turning point of the Civil War?
2️⃣2️⃣ What amendment abolished slavery in the U.S.?
2️⃣3️⃣ Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln?
🚂 Westward Expansion & 19th Century America
2️⃣4️⃣ What was the belief that Americans had a right to expand westward called?
2️⃣5️⃣ Which land purchase doubled the size of the U.S. in 1803?
2️⃣6️⃣ Who led the expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory?
2️⃣7️⃣ What was the forced removal of Native Americans from their lands in the 1830s called?
2️⃣8️⃣ What was the name of the war fought between the U.S. and Mexico from 1846-1848?
2️⃣9️⃣ Which state was the site of the Gold Rush in 1849?
3️⃣0️⃣ Which railroad connected the east and west coasts of the U.S.?
🌎 The 20th Century: World Wars & The Great Depression
3️⃣1️⃣ What year did the stock market crash, leading to the Great Depression?
3️⃣2️⃣ What was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plan to help the U.S. recover from the Great Depression?
3️⃣3️⃣ What event caused the U.S. to enter World War II?
3️⃣4️⃣ Who was the President during most of World War II?
3️⃣5️⃣ Which two cities were hit by atomic bombs in 1945?
3️⃣6️⃣ What international organization was formed after World War II to promote peace?
✊ The Civil Rights Movement & Cold War Era
3️⃣7️⃣ What Supreme Court case ended segregation in public schools?
3️⃣8️⃣ Who delivered the famous “I Have a Dream” speech?
3️⃣9️⃣ What was the purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
4️⃣0️⃣ What Cold War conflict lasted from 1955-1975 and involved U.S. troops?
4️⃣1️⃣ Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
🏛️ Modern U.S. History & Politics
4️⃣2️⃣ Which President resigned due to the Watergate scandal?
4️⃣3️⃣ What year did the 9/11 terrorist attacks occur?
4️⃣4️⃣ Who was the first African American President of the United States?
4️⃣5️⃣ What was the economic crisis of 2008 called?
🌎 U.S. Geography & National Symbols
4️⃣6️⃣ How many stars are on the U.S. flag?
4️⃣7️⃣ What is the capital of the United States?
4️⃣8️⃣ Which U.S. state was the last to join the Union?
4️⃣9️⃣ What is the national anthem of the United States?
5️⃣0️⃣ What is the longest river in the U.S.?
🎯 Bonus Round: Presidential Trivia
5️⃣1️⃣ Who served four terms as U.S. President?
5️⃣2️⃣ Which President signed the Emancipation Proclamation?
5️⃣3️⃣ Who was the youngest President to take office?
5️⃣4️⃣ Which President made the Louisiana Purchase?
5️⃣5️⃣ Who was the first President to live in the White House?
📝 Answer Key
Colonial America & The Revolution:
- Leif Erikson, 2) Jamestown, 3) Plymouth, 4) Tea Act, 5) Thomas Jefferson, 6) 1776, 7) Battle of Saratoga, 8) Treaty of Paris, 9) George Washington
The Constitution & Early Republic:
10) Articles of Confederation, 11) 10, 12) “We the People”, 13) James Madison, 14) A land deal that doubled U.S. territory, 15) John Adams, 16) Federalists & Democratic-Republicans
The Civil War & Reconstruction:
17) Abraham Lincoln, 18) Slavery & states’ rights, 19) Emancipation Proclamation, 20) South Carolina, 21) Gettysburg, 22) 13th Amendment, 23) John Wilkes Booth
Westward Expansion & 19th Century America:
24) Manifest Destiny, 25) Louisiana Purchase, 26) Lewis & Clark, 27) Trail of Tears, 28) Mexican-American War, 29) California, 30) Transcontinental Railroad
20th Century & World Wars:
31) 1929, 32) The New Deal, 33) Pearl Harbor, 34) Franklin D. Roosevelt, 35) Hiroshima & Nagasaki, 36) United Nations
Civil Rights & Cold War:
37) Brown v. Board of Education, 38) Martin Luther King Jr., 39) Ended segregation, 40) Vietnam War, 41) Neil Armstrong
Modern U.S. History:
42) Richard Nixon, 43) 2001, 44) Barack Obama, 45) The Great Recession
U.S. Geography & Symbols:
46) 50, 47) Washington, D.C., 48) Hawaii, 49) The Star-Spangled Banner, 50) Missouri River
Presidential Trivia:
51) Franklin D. Roosevelt, 52) Abraham Lincoln, 53) Theodore Roosevelt, 54) Thomas Jefferson, 55) John Adams
🏆 How Did You Score?
✅ 45-55 Correct: U.S. history master! 🎓
✅ 35-44 Correct: Impressive! 🏅
✅ 25-34 Correct: Solid knowledge! 👍
✅ 15-24 Correct: Keep studying! 📖
✅ 0-14 Correct: Time to learn more! 📚
How did you do? Share your score in the comments! 🇺🇸 🎉