Founding Fathers Quiz
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- 1.
Who was known as the "Father of the Constitution?"
- A.
Alexander Hamilton
- B.
John Adams
- C.
James Madison
Correct Answer
C. James MadisonExplanation
The convention began in May, but James Madison got there in February to start preparing.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Which colony had the most signers of the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Massachusetts
- B.
Virginia
- C.
Pennsylvania
Correct Answer
C. PennsylvaniaExplanation
Pennsylvania had nine signers: George Clymer, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, James Smith, George Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Ross (of Lancaster) and James Wilson.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is John Witherspoon's claim to fame?
- A.
He was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to be an active minister
- B.
He was the only signer to be left-handed
- C.
He signed immediately after John Hancock
Correct Answer
A. He was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to be an active ministerExplanation
Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister. He also was the only college president (of Princeton, then the College of New Jersey) to sign.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What did Ben Franklin do when he was a young man to save money so he could buy more books?
- A.
Sold his house
- B.
Became a vegetarian
- C.
Toured the country as a speaker
Correct Answer
B. Became a vegetarianExplanation
Meat was expensive.Rate this question:
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- 5.
What made the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams so interesting?
- A.
They both died on July 4, 1826 - 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Indepence was ratified.
- B.
Adams was visiting Monticello when they both died.
- C.
They both died on July 4, 1786 - 10 years after the Declaration was ratified.
Correct Answer
A. They both died on July 4, 1826 - 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Indepence was ratified.Explanation
On July 4, 1826, at the age of 90, Adams lay on his deathbed. His last words were, "Thomas Jefferson still survives." He was mistaken: Jefferson had died five hours earlier at Monticello at the age of 82.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Who was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Edward Rutledge
- B.
Roger Sherman
- C.
John Hancock
Correct Answer
A. Edward RutledgeExplanation
Rutledge was only 26.Rate this question:
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- 7.
And who was the oldest?
- A.
John Adams
- B.
George Ross
- C.
Ben Franklin
Correct Answer
C. Ben FranklinExplanation
Franklin was 70.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Of all the founders who became president, which one did not go to college?
- A.
Thomas Jefferson
- B.
George Washington
- C.
James Madison
Correct Answer
B. George WashingtonExplanation
Washington's formal education ended when he was 11, after his father died.Rate this question:
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- 9.
As independence was being debated, who said we "will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation?"
- A.
Abigail Adams
- B.
Crispus Attucks
- C.
Dolley Madison
Correct Answer
A. Abigail AdamsExplanation
Abigail Adams is famous for advising her husband to "remember the ladies" as he helped form the United States government. It would take another 145 years for women to get the right to vote.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What was Roger Sherman's claim to fame?
- A.
He was Ben Franklin's son-in-law
- B.
He was the only person to sign the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
- C.
He is the man who came up with the opening lines of the Constitution: "We the People."
Correct Answer
B. He was the only person to sign the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the ConstitutionExplanation
Sherman's other claim to fame was helping shape the Great Compromise, which gave all the states two senators and representation by population in the House of Representatives.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Who was the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Thomas Jefferson
- B.
John Hancock
- C.
Ben Franklin
Correct Answer
A. Thomas JeffersonExplanation
Jefferson was said to be upset when his words were edited and tweaked.Rate this question:
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- 12.
What founder was not present to debate, vote on or sign the Declaration of Independence?
- A.
Ben Franklin
- B.
Thomas Jefferson
- C.
George Washington
Correct Answer
C. George WashingtonExplanation
Washington was busy fighting the Revolutionary War.Rate this question:
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- 13.
Which founder was among America's richest men in 1776?
- A.
George Washington
- B.
John Hancock
- C.
Ben Franklin
Correct Answer
B. John HancockExplanation
Hancock was the son of a poor minister, but inherited a fortune from his uncle, a shipper and merchant.Rate this question:
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- 14.
What was Charles Carroll's claim to fame?
- A.
He was the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration.
- B.
He was the tallest signer.
- C.
He came the farthest to sign.
Correct Answer
A. He was the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration.Explanation
Carroll was from Maryland, which had a large Catholic population. He also was the last surviving signer, dying in 1832 at age 95.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Philadelphia's population in 1790 was 28,000. How many Philadelphians came to Ben Franklin's funeral that year?
- A.
10,000
- B.
20,000
- C.
5,000
Correct Answer
B. 20,000Explanation
He was a popular guy in the City of Brotherly Love. In his biography of Franklin, Carl Van Doren wrote, "No other town burying its great man, ever buried more of itself than Philadelphia with Franklin."Rate this question:
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- 16.
What woman stayed with her husband during winter encampments during the Revolutionary War?
- A.
Martha Jefferson
- B.
Dolley Madison
- C.
Martha Washington
Correct Answer
C. Martha WashingtonExplanation
Her husband, George, felt her presence at the encampments, including Valley Forge, was important for morale.Rate this question:
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- 17.
What kept Thomas Jefferson away from the Constitutional Convention?
- A.
He was ill
- B.
He was in France
- C.
He broke his leg
Correct Answer
B. He was in FranceExplanation
Jefferson served as minister to France from 1785 to 1789.Rate this question:
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- 18.
What founder was shot in a duel by the vice president?
- A.
John Hancock
- B.
Alexander Hamilton
- C.
Edward Rutledge
Correct Answer
B. Alexander HamiltonExplanation
The duel between Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr took place July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton died the next day.Rate this question:
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- 19.
Washington Irving described this founder as "a withered little applejohn."
- A.
James Madison
- B.
Thomas Jefferson
- C.
Alexander Hamilton
Correct Answer
A. James MadisonExplanation
Irving called Madison's wife, Dolley, a "fine, portly, buxom dame."Rate this question:
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- 20.
Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?
- A.
George Washington
- B.
Thomas Jefferson
- C.
James Madison
Correct Answer
A. George WashingtonExplanation
The vote was unanimous.Rate this question:
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- 21.
Which founder's books are the basis of the Library of Congress?
- A.
Ben Franklin
- B.
Thomas Jefferson
- C.
James Madison
Correct Answer
B. Thomas JeffersonExplanation
Jefferson sold his 6,487 volumes for $23,950 in 1815 to pay off some of his many debts. About two thirds of the books would be lost to fire in 1851.Rate this question:
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- 22.
What was Caesar Rodney's claim to fame?
- A.
Suffering from cancer, Rodney rode 70 miles from Delaware to Philadelphia to break a deadlock in the voting for independence on July 2.
- B.
He rode 70 miles to prevent Delaware from voting for independence but failed to make it.
- C.
He rode 70 miles from Philadelphia to Delaware to get married on July 4, 1776.
Correct Answer
A. Suffering from cancer, Rodney rode 70 miles from Delaware to Philadelphia to break a deadlock in the voting for independence on July 2.Explanation
The state quarter for Delaware shows Rodney riding on his horse.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 18, 2022Quiz Edited by
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Jun 27, 2014Quiz Created by
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