Civics And Revolutionary-era History
A recent poll gauging U. S. Knowledge of civics and Revolutionary-era history from the American Revolution Center. Test your knowledge and see how you stack up to others polled.
- 1.
Is the Bill of Rights part of:
- A.
The U.S. Constitution
- B.
The Declaration of Independence
- C.
The Gettysburg Address
- D.
The Articles of Confederation
- E.
# Don’t know
Correct Answer
A. The U.S. ConstitutionExplanation
More Americans could identify Michael Jackson as the composer of "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" than could identify the Bill of Rights as a body of amendments to the Constitution.1Rate this question:
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- 2.
The most important consequence of the Boston Tea party was:
- A.
The repeal of the tax on tea
- B.
The failure of the other colonies to support Boston’s action
- C.
The opening of negotiations between Britain and Massachusetts
- D.
The enactment by Parliament of the Coercive Acts
- E.
Don’t Know
Correct Answer
D. The enactment by Parliament of the Coercive ActsExplanation
More than half of respondents misidentified the outcome of the 18th-century Tea party as a repeal of taxes, rather than as a key mobilization of popular resistance to British colonial rule.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Which document outlines the division of powers between the states and the federal government?
- A.
Declaration of Independence
- B.
Marshall Plan
- C.
U.S. Constitution
- D.
Homestead Act
- E.
Don’t Know
Correct Answer
C. U.S. Constitution -
- 4.
The last major military action of the American Revolution was at:
- A.
Bunker Hill
- B.
Trenton
- C.
Saratoga
- D.
Yorktown
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. Yorktown -
- 5.
Which of the following rights is not protected by the Bill of Rights?
- A.
Freedom of Speech
- B.
Trial by Jury
- C.
The right to bear arms
- D.
Right to vote
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. Right to voteExplanation
A third mistakenly believed that the Bill of Rights does not guarantee a right to a trial by jury, while 40 percent mistakenly thought that it did secure the right to vote.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Which of the following events most directly encouraged the states to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787:
- A.
The Whiskey Rebellion
- B.
Shays’ Rebellion
- C.
The Boston Massacre
- D.
Bacon’s Rebellion
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
B. Shays’ Rebellion -
- 7.
Which of the following was responsible for declaring America’s independence from Great Britain?
- A.
The Albany Congress
- B.
The Stamp Act Congress
- C.
The Second Continental Congress
- D.
The House of Commons
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. The Second Continental Congress -
- 8.
Which of the following conflicts most directly led to the Stamp Act?
- A.
The War of 1812
- B.
The War of the Roses
- C.
The French and Indian War (aka The 7 Years war)
- D.
The Mexican-American War
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. The French and Indian War (aka The 7 Years war) -
- 9.
Benjamin Franklin epitomized which movement in colonial America?
- A.
The Enlightenment
- B.
The Great Awakening
- C.
The Loyalist movement
- D.
The Glorious Revolution
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
A. The Enlightenment -
- 10.
Who wrote the influential pamphlet called “Common Sense” which advocated independence from Britain?
- A.
Patrick Henry
- B.
Edmund Burke
- C.
Paul Revere
- D.
Thomas Paine
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. Thomas Paine -
- 11.
Who took detailed notes at the Constitutional Convention and is widely regarded as the “Father of the Constitution?”
- A.
Abraham Lincoln
- B.
James Madison
- C.
Winston Churchill
- D.
George Washington
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
B. James Madison -
- 12.
Who was the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court?
- A.
Alexander Hamilton
- B.
John Marshall
- C.
Charles Evans Hughes
- D.
John Jay
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. John Jay -
- 13.
Which of the following are the inalienable rights stated in the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Life, liberty and property
- B.
Honor, liberty and peace
- C.
Life, respect and equal protection
- D.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -
- 14.
The US Constitution establishes which of the following forms of government in the United States?
- A.
A Direct Democracy
- B.
A Republic
- C.
A Confederacy
- D.
An Oligarchy
- E.
Don’t know
Correct Answer
B. A RepublicExplanation
More than half misidentified the system of government established in the Constitution as a direct democracy, rather than a republic-a question that must be answered correctly by immigrants qualifying for U.S. citizenship.Rate this question:
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- 15.
John Locke developed the concept of the “consent of the governed,” an important principle underlying the War for Independence, in a theory known as:
- A.
Natural Law
- B.
Law of Relativity
- C.
Common Law
- D.
Statutory Law
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
A. Natural Law -
- 16.
Which of the following nations played an important role in helping the colonies defeat the British in the American Revolution?
- A.
Canada
- B.
Mexico
- C.
Denmark
- D.
France
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. FranceExplanation
The people of France gave the Statue of Liberty to the people of the United States over one hundred years ago in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution.Rate this question:
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- 17.
Which of the following phrases are the opening words to the US Constitution?
- A.
When in the course of human events
- B.
We the People
- C.
Fourscore and seven years ago
- D.
I have a dream
- E.
Don’t Know
Correct Answer
B. We the PeopleExplanation
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Which of the following events came BEFORE the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Founding of Jamestown, VA
- B.
The Civil War
- C.
The Emancipation Proclamation
- D.
War of 1812
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
A. Founding of Jamestown, VA -
- 19.
How many children do celebrities “Jon and Kate” have?
- A.
4
- B.
6
- C.
8
- D.
12
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. 8 -
- 20.
How many states were there after the United States won its independence from Britain?
- A.
7
- B.
13
- C.
15
- D.
21
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
B. 13 -
- 21.
Who said the following: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”?
- A.
George Washington
- B.
Barack Obama
- C.
Karl Marx
- D.
Thomas Paine
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. Karl MarxExplanation
More than 50 percent of respondents attributed the quote "From each according to his ability to each according to his needs" to either Thomas Paine, George Washington or President Obama. The quote is from Karl Marx, author of "The Communist Manifesto."Rate this question:
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- 22.
Who was the first athlete to win a record 8 gold medals at a single Olympics?
- A.
Scott Hamilton
- B.
Kobe Bryant
- C.
Shannon Miller
- D.
Michael Phelps
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
D. Michael Phelps -
- 23.
Who famously sang the songs “Beat it” and “Billie Jean”?
- A.
Elvis
- B.
Bruce Springsteen
- C.
Michael Jackson
- D.
N*SYNC
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. Michael JacksonExplanation
More Americans could identify Michael Jackson as the composer of "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" than could identify the Bill of Rights as a body of amendments to the Constitution.Rate this question:
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- 24.
What river did George Washington cross on Christmas Eve in 1776 in a surprise attack on the Hessian troops?
- A.
Rhine
- B.
Potomac
- C.
Delaware
- D.
Michigan
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. Delaware -
- 25.
Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury?
- A.
James Monroe
- B.
Alexander Hamilton
- C.
Larry Summers
- D.
John Seward
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
B. Alexander Hamilton -
- 26.
In what state did the Valley Forge winter encampment occur?
- A.
Pennsylvania
- B.
New York
- C.
Delaware
- D.
Ohio
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
A. Pennsylvania -
- 27.
When did the American Revolution begin? Was it in the . . .
- A.
1490s
- B.
1640s
- C.
1770s
- D.
1800s
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. 1770s -
- 28.
Which side of the American War of Independence did American Indians support?
- A.
British
- B.
American
- C.
Both
- D.
Neither
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
C. Both -
- 29.
The westernmost military action of the American Revolution took place at:
- A.
St. Louis
- B.
Austin
- C.
Richmond
- D.
Atlanta
- E.
Don’t know
Correct Answer
A. St. Louis -
- 30.
Who famously implored her husband to “remember the ladies” in drafting laws for the newly independent United States of America?
- A.
Martha Washington
- B.
Abigail Adams
- C.
Molly Pitcher
- D.
Phyllis Wheatley
- E.
Don't Know
Correct Answer
B. Abigail Adams -
- 31.
Can you name all of the CURRENT Supreme Court Justices as of June 1, 2010?
Quiz Review Timeline +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
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Current Version
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Mar 21, 2022Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Jun 03, 2010Quiz Created by
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