Top 100+ Common Questions and Best Answers about American History

Top 100+ Common Questions and Best Answers about American History

American history is a fascinating subject, and there is so much to learn. The bill of rights is exciting to read and will inform you about the first ten amendments of the constitution. The American Revolution started in 1775 and lasted until 1783. Learn about the first president George Washington who became president in 1789. Many leaders and statesmen have helped shape the country from Benjamin Franklin to William Fulbright. Have fun learning about a great nation.

The United States of America is a nation with a rich history and a noble goal: government of the people, by the people, for the people. Its citizens' struggle to achieve that goal is a dramatic story stretching over hundreds of years.

It's difficult to cover more than 240 years of wars, massacres, and milestones in your standard U.S. history class. As a resort, teachers are often forced to exclude a lot of major moments from their lessons and student are left without knowing American history facts that range from interesting to important. For example, did you know there was a molasses flood in Boston in 1919? Or that the Emancipation Proclamation didn't really free all enslaved people? Probably not, unless you spend all your free time consuming American history.

Explore important topics and moments in U.S. history through 100+ questions and the best answers below!

Top 100+ Common Questions and Best Answers about American History

1. When Was America Discovered?

1492

Christopher Columbus is generally credited with discovering America, although Norse Vikings actually had a fully-functioning settlement in North America hundreds of years prior.

2. In The United States, What Is Marine One?

Presidents Helicopter

Marin One might refer to a helicopter, but “Air Force One” actually refers to a special plane that the president uses to fly across the nation. This plan has the ability to coordinate the launch of nuclear warheads.

3. Which President Was The First To Be Televised?

F D Roosevelt

Aside from being the first televised president, F.D. Roosevelt also created the New Deal, leading millions of Americans through the hardships of the Great Depression and later the Second World War.

4. In 1951, What Was Broadcasted In America?

First colored Television program

Although the first colored television program was broadcast in 1951, the first working color TV was demonstrated much earlier in 1944. This was done by John Logie Baird, a Scotsman.

5. Who Discovered America?

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus’ famous voyage was very nearly stopped in its tracks by a mutiny. His sailors realized how far they had traveled from home, and they were on the verge of rebellion when they finally sighted land.

6. On What Date Was The Declaration Of Independence Signed?

Photo: history

July fourth seventeen seventy-six

The Declaration of Independence states that all American citizens are entitled to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Declaration of Independence also states that all men are created equal.

7. Tell The Name Of Abraham Lincoln's Dog?

Fido

Fido’s Latin translation suggests that Lincoln’s dog was someone that he trusted - someone he could confide in. This is because the Latin translation of “Fido is something like “I am faithful.”

8. Name The Campaign Against The Sale Or Drinking Of Alcohol.

The Temperence Movement

The movement against the drinking and sale of alcohol culminated with the Prohibition Era, a time when mobsters controlled vast underground empires filled with illegal alcohol sales and violence.

9. George Washington Thomas Jefferson And Sam Adams All Did What?

Brewed own beer

Brewing your own beer is relatively easy. The origins of beer can be traced back to the ancient Egyptian times, and today you can easily brew your own beer with special kits.

10. What Was The Original Name Of Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Michael

Martin Luther King Jr. actually changed his name from Michael to Martin after his father did the same. His father changed his name to Martin in order to honor the great theologian and Protestant leader, Martin Luther.

11. Which President Gave The Shortest Inaugural Speech?

George Washington

George Washington said only 130 words during his second inaugural speech. To be fair, he didn’t really need to say much, seeing has he had already established his vision during his first term.

12. Which Actor Top-Billed The 1960’S Television Series Batman?

Adam West

Adam West became a major TV figure during the 1960s, appearing alongside his stalwart sidekick Robin in a number of episodes. Tragically, Adam West passed away in 2017.

13. Before America Was Apparently Discovered By Columbus Who Lived There?

Native Americans

Native Americans first arrived in North America either by walking over the Bering Strait (which was frozen at the time) or using watercraft to move down along the coast from Alaska.

14. To Which US State Would We Need To Travel To See The Statue Of Liberty?

New York

The statue of liberty was actually a gift from France, even though it’s considered one of the most American symbols to this day.

15. What City Was The First Capital Of The United States?

Photo: ydr

New York City

Today, Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. “D.C.” stands for “District of Columbia,” which is technically not a state.

16. In Which Year Abraham Lincoln Was Assassinated?

1865

Abraham Lincoln’s assassination was strange for a number of reasons. For example, his assassin was an actor who Lincoln had seen perform just months earlier.

17. Which European Language Was First Spoken In The United States?

Spanish

The Spanish language was the first spoken in the United States because the first Europeans who landed in America were Spanish. They were part of Christopher Columbus’ crew.

18. Which Year Did California Become A State?

1850

Today, California has the largest population of all US states. Because of this, it holds significant influence during election years.

19. On What Year Did The Ford Model T Enter Production?

1908

The first Ford Model T was the first car that was became widely-adopted by the public. The first prototypes were made from Hemp fibers and fueled by hemp biofuel.

20. When did the US declare independence from Britain (full date)?

4th of July 1776

21. When did Christopher Columbus discover the Americas?

1492

22. Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

23. How did the Dutch settlers originally named Manhattan?

New Amsterdam

24. When was slavery abolished in the US?

1865

25. Which battle was fought between the 1st and 3rd of July 1863?

Battle of Gettysburg

26. Who was the first person to walk on the moon?

Neil Armstrong

27. What happened on the 7th of December 1941?

Photo:history

Attack of Pearl Harbor

28. In which city was Martin Luther King, Jr. killed?

Memphis

29. Who was the first and only president to resign?

Richard Nixon

30. Who was the first president of the USA?

George Washington

31. Who was George W. Bush’s vice president?

Dick Cheney

32. Which US President was the 76th governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975?

Jimmy Carter

33. What is the name of the official residence of the US Presidents?

White House

34. Who was the 44th US President?

Barack Obama

35. Who was JFK’s wife?

Jaqueline (“Jackie) Kennedy

36. Who was President when 911 happened?

George W. Bush

37. What Was The Initial Reported Cause Of Death For Elvis Presley That Spread In The Media?

Heart attack

Elvis Presley actually likely died of an overdose from prescription medications, including barbiturates. He was found dead in a bathroom.

38. When Was The Hoover Dam Construction Completed?

1936

The Hoover Dam was later referenced heavily in the popular video game Fallout: New Vegas. During the game, the player fights a massive battle on the walls of the Hoover Dam as the final chapter.

39. Who Installed The First Elevator In America?

Elisha Otis

Another early example of an elevator was found in Hitler’s “Eagle’s Nest,” his personal home and command center in Berchtesgaden, near Austria.

40. In Which Year Cigarettes Were Banned On The US Television.

1971

Funnily enough, the Nazis were the first to launch widespread anti-smoking campaigns. Doctors of the Third Reich understood the health concerns behind smoking.

41. Who Was Elected U.S. President In 1980?

Ronald Reagan

Before becoming president of the United States, Reagan was a famous movie star. His on-screen persona undoubtedly helped him win over the majority of the American people.

42. Which Popular Teen-Oriented Cable TV Channel Launched In 1981?

MTV

They say that MTV killed the radio star, but in truth that never actually played out. However, YouTube almost certainly succeeded in killing MTV years later.

43. Which Menu Item Did McDonald's Unveil In 1983?

McNugget

Can you imagine an era without Chicken Nuggets? If you're a 90s baby, you have taken Chicken Nuggets for granted all your life.

44. Who Preceded Ronald Raegan’s Presidency In The United States Of America?

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter was a peanut farmer before he took office. When he left the presidency, his peanut business was deep in debt.

45. In 1992, The Largest Mall In The US, Mall Of America, Opened In Which State?

Minnesota

The Mall of America might be the largest in the nation, but it’s not the largest in the world. That honor instead falls to the West Edmonton Mall in Canada.

46. True Or False. Bill Clinton Was The First President In American History To Be Impeached In 1998.

Photo: history

FALSE

Bill Clinton may have been impeached, but he wasn’t actually removed from office. In fact, his approval ratings went up after his impeachment because Americans found him more relatable.

47. What Was The Top-Grossing Movie Of 1990?

Home Alone

Macaulay Culkin was the star of the show when it came to Home Alone, and many audiences absolutely loved this young actor. Unfortunately, his career saw a slump after he became an adult.

48. Whose portrait was on it?

Salmon P. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury during the Civil War.

49. Who was the Confederate president during the Civil War?

Jefferson Davis.

50. When was the Emancipation Proclamation issued?

Jan. 1, 1863.

51. What was the name of the battle after which General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant?

The Battle of Appomattox Court House.

52. What is the name of the theater where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth?

Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

53. When did the Civil War end?

President Andrew Johnson officially declared victory on May 9, 1865.

54. How many Africans were captured and forcibly transported during the entirety of the trans-Atlantic slave trade?

Between 10 and 15 million.

55. What state seceded from Virginia in 1863?

West Virginia.

56. About how many slaves were freed at the conclusion of the Civil War?

3.9 million.

57. Who was the first president to be impeached?

President Andrew Johnson in 1868.

58. What country gifted the United States with the Statue of Liberty?

France.

59. Who was the first African American senator?

Hiram Rhodes Revels took his oath of office in 1870.

60. About how many Europeans immigrated to America from 1865 to 1918?

About 27.5 million.

61. Which two states do not practice Daylight Savings?

Arizona and Hawaii.

62. Which is the only native spirit of the USA as declared by the Congress in 1964?

Bourbon.

63. When did the Centralia Mine Fires start burning?

1962.

64. When did Alabama repeal laws against the marriage of interracial couples?

2000.

65. How many copies of the Declaration of Independence exist today?

Twenty-six copies.

66. In which year the 50-star American Flag was designed?

Photo: zoltonlaw

In 1958

67. In which year the opening shots of American Revolution were fired?

In 1775.

68. Where did the Molasses Disaster of 1919 occur?

At Boston

69. In which cities the opening shots of American Revolution were fired?

Lexington and Concord.

70. In which year the American Constitution was written?

In 1787

71. In which year Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?

In 1865.

72. Fill in the Blank. The killer of Abraham Lincoln was …….. By occupation.

(Stage Actor)

73. Tell the name of Abraham Lincoln’s Dog?

Fido.

74. When did George Washington die?

December 14, 1799.

75. Which President purchased Louisiana Territory from France?

Thomas Jefferson

76. When did George Washington born?

February 22, 1732.

77. When was Louisiana Territory purchased?

In 1803.

78. Where the first shots of Civil War were were fired?

Fort Sumter, California.

79. Where is the Appomattox Court House situated?

In Virginia.

80. Which belief states that the United States should own all of the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

Manifest Destiny.

81. Which system allows the sharing of power between the states and the national government?

Federalism

82. When was the Industrial Revolution occurred in America?

From 1760 to 1840.

83. In which state Thomas Edison die?

In New Jersey

84. Who coined the word New England?

John Smith

85. Which President gave the shortest inaugural speech?

George Washington.

86. On which date did Thomas Jefferson write the last letter?

Photo: thoughtco

26th June 1826

87. Name three Presidents who died on 4th July.

Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Adams.

88. Where did the first submarine attack occur?

At New York Harbor

89. Where did the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence occur?

Philadelphia

90. When did the first Submarine attack occur?

In 1776

91. What is the official language of the United States?

The United States does not have an official language.

92. How much pizza is eaten every day by Americans (in acres)?

US Citizens consume around a hundred acres of pizza every day.

93. Where is the Darth Vader Gargoyle located in Washington, DC?

The National Cathedral.

94. Which is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist?

Florida.

95. How big is Jimmie Luecke's signature across his Texas farmland?

Luecke's sign is 2.5 miles long.

96. California Senator George Murphy started filling up his desk with this item starting from 1964. What is it?

Candy!

97. What public position is the highest paid in over half of the United States?

Football Coach.

98. How did Abraham Lincoln end up in the Wrestling Hall of Fame?

Abraham Lincoln only lost one in three hundred matches.

99. Where is the town of Hell, located in the US?

Michigan.

100. Where is the only diamond mine that allows the public to pick diamonds from located?

Arkansas.

101. Who was the first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympic Games?

Wilma Rudolph.

102. How many gold medals does Michael Phelps hold?

Answer: Michael Phelps has taken home 23 gold medals along with several bronze and silver medals.

103. How many gold medals did Simone Biles win at Rio 2016?

Simone won four gold medals in 2016 for gymnastics

104. Which US Olympian sold his medal?

Mark Wells.

105. Which US Tennis player has won the maximum number of Grand Slam titles in history?

Serena Williams.

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