The United States has a rich and complex history, filled with wars, revolutions, great leaders, and monumental events that shaped the nation. From the fight for independence to modern-day politics, every chapter of American history has a story to tell.
So, how well do you know US history? 🤔 Test your knowledge with these 20 General Knowledge (GK) questions and see if you can score like a true history buff! 🇺🇸
🧠 US History Quiz: 20 GK Questions & Answers
🔹 The Birth of a Nation
1. In which year did the United States declare independence?
✅ Answer: 1776
2. Who is known as the “Father of the Constitution”?
✅ Answer: James Madison
3. What was the first capital of the United States?
✅ Answer: New York City
4. Which treaty ended the American Revolutionary War?
✅ Answer: The Treaty of Paris (1783)
5. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
✅ Answer: Thomas Jefferson
🔹 Westward Expansion & Civil War
6. What was the Louisiana Purchase, and which president was responsible for it?
✅ Answer: It was the 1803 land deal that doubled the size of the US, purchased from France by Thomas Jefferson.
7. Who was the President of the Confederate States during the Civil War?
✅ Answer: Jefferson Davis
8. What was the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation?
✅ Answer: It declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states (1863).
9. Which battle is considered the turning point of the Civil War?
✅ Answer: The Battle of Gettysburg (1863)
10. When was Abraham Lincoln assassinated, and by whom?
✅ Answer: April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth
🔹 Industrialization & World Wars
11. When did the Stock Market Crash that led to the Great Depression occur?
✅ Answer: 1929
12. What year did the US enter World War I?
✅ Answer: 1917
13. What major event led the United States into World War II?
✅ Answer: The attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)
14. Who was the U.S. President during most of World War II?
✅ Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt
15. What were the names of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945?
✅ Answer: “Little Boy” (Hiroshima) and “Fat Man” (Nagasaki)
🔹 Modern US History
16. What was the Civil Rights Movement fighting for?
✅ Answer: Ending racial segregation and promoting equal rights for African Americans.
17. Who was the first man to walk on the moon, and when?
✅ Answer: Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969
18. What scandal led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon?
✅ Answer: The Watergate Scandal
19. What tragic event occurred on September 11, 2001?
✅ Answer: The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
20. Who was the first African American President of the United States?
✅ Answer: Barack Obama (elected in 2008)
🏆 How Did You Score?
- 16-20 Correct: 🇺🇸 US History Expert! You know your American history well!
- 11-15 Correct: 📖 Great Job! You have a strong understanding of the past.
- 6-10 Correct: 🔍 Good Effort! Keep exploring American history.
- 0-5 Correct: 🏛️ No Worries! Learning history is a journey—keep going!
How did you do? Challenge your friends and see who knows US history best!
Would you like more quizzes on US Presidents, famous battles, or major historical amendments? Let me know in the comments! 🚀