Founding Fathers Quiz

1. Who was the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

John Hancock

Ben Franklin

Jefferson was said to be upset when his words were edited and tweaked.

Explanation

Jefferson was said to be upset when his words were edited and tweaked.

2. Of all the founders who became president, which one did not go to college?

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington

James Madison

Washington's formal education ended when he was 11, after his father died.

Explanation

Washington's formal education ended when he was 11, after his father died.

3. What founder was shot in a duel by the vice president?

John Hancock

Alexander Hamilton

Edward Rutledge

The duel between Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr took place July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton died the next day.

Explanation

The duel between Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr took place July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton died the next day.

4. What kept Thomas Jefferson away from the Constitutional Convention?

He was ill

He was in France

He broke his leg

Jefferson served as minister to France from 1785 to 1789.

Explanation

Jefferson served as minister to France from 1785 to 1789.

5. And who was the oldest?

John Adams

George Ross

Ben Franklin

Franklin was 70.

Explanation

Franklin was 70.

6. What was Roger Sherman's claim to fame?

He was Ben Franklin's son-in-law

He is the man who came up with the opening lines of the Constitution: "We the People."

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.

Explanation

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.

7. What made the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams so interesting?

They both died on July 4, 1826 - 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Indepence was ratified.

Adams was visiting Monticello when they both died.

They both died on July 4, 1786 - 10 years after the Declaration was ratified.

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.

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.

8. What founder was not present to debate, vote on or sign the Declaration of Independence?

Ben Franklin

Thomas Jefferson

George Washington

Washington was busy fighting the Revolutionary War.

Explanation

Washington was busy fighting the Revolutionary War.

9. What woman stayed with her husband during winter encampments during the Revolutionary War?

Martha Jefferson

Dolley Madison

Martha Washington

Her husband, George, felt her presence at the encampments, including Valley Forge, was important for morale.

Explanation

Her husband, George, felt her presence at the encampments, including Valley Forge, was important for morale.

10. Washington Irving described this founder as "a withered little applejohn."

James Madison

Thomas Jefferson

Alexander Hamilton

Irving called Madison's wife, Dolley, a "fine, portly, buxom dame."

Explanation

Irving called Madison's wife, Dolley, a "fine, portly, buxom dame."

11. What was Charles Carroll's claim to fame?

He was the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration.

He was the tallest signer.

He came the farthest to sign.

Carroll was from Maryland, which had a large Catholic population. He also was the last surviving signer, dying in 1832 at age 95.

Explanation

Carroll was from Maryland, which had a large Catholic population. He also was the last surviving signer, dying in 1832 at age 95.

12. Who was known as the "Father of the Constitution?"

Alexander Hamilton

John Adams

James Madison

The convention began in May, but James Madison got there in February to start preparing.

Explanation

The convention began in May, but James Madison got there in February to start preparing.

13. Philadelphia's population in 1790 was 28,000. How many Philadelphians came to Ben Franklin's funeral that year?

10,000

20,000

5,000

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."

Explanation

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."

14. What was Caesar Rodney's claim to fame?

He rode 70 miles to prevent Delaware from voting for independence but failed to make it.

He rode 70 miles from Philadelphia to Delaware to get married on July 4, 1776.

The state quarter for Delaware shows Rodney riding on his horse.

Explanation

The state quarter for Delaware shows Rodney riding on his horse.

15. What is John Witherspoon's claim to fame?

He was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to be an active minister

He was the only signer to be left-handed

He signed immediately after John Hancock

Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister. He also was the only college president (of Princeton, then the College of New Jersey) to sign.

Explanation

Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister. He also was the only college president (of Princeton, then the College of New Jersey) to sign.

16. As independence was being debated, who said we "will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation?"

Abigail Adams

Crispus Attucks

Dolley Madison

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.

Explanation

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.

17. Which founder was among America's richest men in 1776?

George Washington

John Hancock

Ben Franklin

Hancock was the son of a poor minister, but inherited a fortune from his uncle, a shipper and merchant.

Explanation

Hancock was the son of a poor minister, but inherited a fortune from his uncle, a shipper and merchant.

18. Who was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence?

Edward Rutledge

Roger Sherman

John Hancock

Rutledge was only 26.

Explanation

Rutledge was only 26.

19. What did Ben Franklin do when he was a young man to save money so he could buy more books?

Sold his house

Became a vegetarian

Toured the country as a speaker

Meat was expensive.

Explanation

Meat was expensive.

20. Which founder's books are the basis of the Library of Congress?

Ben Franklin

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

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.

Explanation

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.

21. Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

The vote was unanimous.

Explanation

The vote was unanimous.

22. Which colony had the most signers of the Declaration of Independence?

Massachusetts

Virginia

Pennsylvania

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.

Explanation

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.