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Quiz about Famous SwedishAmericans
Quiz about Famous SwedishAmericans

Famous Swedish-Americans Trivia Quiz


Over the centuries, about one fourth of the Swedish population left their native land to seek a better life in America. Some of them made their mark in the most varying of fields. This is a quiz in their honour!

A multiple-choice quiz by jensj2. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
jensj2
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
214,189
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
324
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Let's start early on. In the middle of the 17th century, a Swedish farmer acquired a piece of land close to the Hudson River estuary. His name survives to this day in one of the boroughs of New York City. Which one? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Moving on to the next century, one of the founding fathers hailed from Swedish settlers in Delaware, the site of a short-lived colony called New Sweden. He was initially opposed to the idea of independence, but actually came to cast the deciding vote at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia (some say because he was late to the meeting), dying shortly thereafter. What was his name? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Fast-forward to the 19th century and the epic Civil War. Swedish-born 'cranky but brilliant' engineer John Ericsson, was the constructor of ironclad warship Monitor, which won a decisive battle against the Confederates' Merrimack. Where did the battle take place? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. John W. Nordstrom arrived in the States from Sweden in 1887 with the (almost) proverbial five dollars in his pocket. After years of struggle, in 1901 he founded a shoe-store company by the name of Nordstrom & Wallin. Since then, of course, only the first name survives in one of the most well known US department store chains. How did Nordstrom meet his partner Wallin? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. We shall continue in the business world. In 1914, Swedish immigrant Carl Wickman started an enterprise transporting miners by bus. In 1921, the company went interstate and began calling its vehicles 'greyhounds'. In which state, a favourite settling place of many Swedish immigrants, did Wickman begin his enterprise? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Charles Augustus Lindbergh arrived as child in the United States from the province of Smaland. He became a lawyer and served as a U.S. congressman from Minnesota. His son, Charles Jr., would gain even greater fame when he became the first man to perform a solo flight across the Atlantic. What popular dance was named in honor of his exploit? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Legendary jazz musician and composer Charles Mingus had a most varied ethnic background. His half-Swedish Mulatto father was a farmhand who ran away before Mingus was even born. What was Mingus's main instrument? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Let's broaden our horizon a little. In July 1969, two humans made a giant leap for mankind by stepping on the moon. The second one, (Edwin) Buzz Aldrin, hailed from the province of Varmland. Actually, most of the legendary pictures taken on that occasion are of him, since first stepper Neil Armstrong was holding the camera. Now that very camera was 100% Swedish. Its brand? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. 16th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court William Rehnquist's paternal grandparents emigrated separately from the beautiful provinces of Varmland and Ostergotland, respectively, and met each other in Chicago. (One of his Swedish forefathers was executed for embezzling!) Which President nominated Rehnquist to the position of Chief Justice? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The surname Soderberg is pretty common in Sweden (it means 'southern mountain'). It should come as no surprise, therefore, that Hollywood hotshot director Steven Soderbergh's grandfather came from Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. In the year 2000, what first in Oscar history did Soderbergh achieve? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Let's start early on. In the middle of the 17th century, a Swedish farmer acquired a piece of land close to the Hudson River estuary. His name survives to this day in one of the boroughs of New York City. Which one?

Answer: The Bronx

His name was Jonas Bronck (and his place, The Bronck's). Admittedly, there is some confusion as to this guy's background. He is sometimes referred to as both Danish and Dutch. However, most recent research seems to indicate that he was, in fact, Swedish.
2. Moving on to the next century, one of the founding fathers hailed from Swedish settlers in Delaware, the site of a short-lived colony called New Sweden. He was initially opposed to the idea of independence, but actually came to cast the deciding vote at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia (some say because he was late to the meeting), dying shortly thereafter. What was his name?

Answer: John Morton

There is an American Swedish historical museum named after him in Philadelphia, well worth a visit!
3. Fast-forward to the 19th century and the epic Civil War. Swedish-born 'cranky but brilliant' engineer John Ericsson, was the constructor of ironclad warship Monitor, which won a decisive battle against the Confederates' Merrimack. Where did the battle take place?

Answer: Hampton Roads

Although he became an American citizen in 1848, it was Ericsson's wish to be buried in his hometown in the province of Varmland, where he now rests in a magnificent mausoleum. His statue can be seen in Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan.
4. John W. Nordstrom arrived in the States from Sweden in 1887 with the (almost) proverbial five dollars in his pocket. After years of struggle, in 1901 he founded a shoe-store company by the name of Nordstrom & Wallin. Since then, of course, only the first name survives in one of the most well known US department store chains. How did Nordstrom meet his partner Wallin?

Answer: During the Klondike gold rush

Somebody up there must have told them that retailing was a surer road to success...
5. We shall continue in the business world. In 1914, Swedish immigrant Carl Wickman started an enterprise transporting miners by bus. In 1921, the company went interstate and began calling its vehicles 'greyhounds'. In which state, a favourite settling place of many Swedish immigrants, did Wickman begin his enterprise?

Answer: Minnesota

15 cents a ride. By 1930, an estimated 10 % of Minnesota's population had Swedish roots. Its landscape resembles that of Sweden, which made it easier for the farmers that settled there.
6. Charles Augustus Lindbergh arrived as child in the United States from the province of Smaland. He became a lawyer and served as a U.S. congressman from Minnesota. His son, Charles Jr., would gain even greater fame when he became the first man to perform a solo flight across the Atlantic. What popular dance was named in honor of his exploit?

Answer: The Lindy Hop

"Lindy" was a nickname Lindbergh himself despised. It can also mean 'young girl'. The Lindy Hop was originally an African American jazz dance, and the renaming helped make it an all-American fad.
7. Legendary jazz musician and composer Charles Mingus had a most varied ethnic background. His half-Swedish Mulatto father was a farmhand who ran away before Mingus was even born. What was Mingus's main instrument?

Answer: Bass

He had a violent temper, and is allegedly the pioneer in smashing instruments on stage (since copied by The Who and assorted punk bands). His ashes are scattered in the Ganges. Mingus is on record as saying that the trouble with people is that we pay too much attention to each other's background. Beautiful words, but hey, I've got a ten-question quiz to complete...
8. Let's broaden our horizon a little. In July 1969, two humans made a giant leap for mankind by stepping on the moon. The second one, (Edwin) Buzz Aldrin, hailed from the province of Varmland. Actually, most of the legendary pictures taken on that occasion are of him, since first stepper Neil Armstrong was holding the camera. Now that very camera was 100% Swedish. Its brand?

Answer: Hasselblad

The company was founded in 1841 in Gothenburg, Sweden's second city. Twelve cameras remain on the moon. (Before you hit the correction button, Aldrin changed his first name legally to Buzz in the 1980's!)
9. 16th Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court William Rehnquist's paternal grandparents emigrated separately from the beautiful provinces of Varmland and Ostergotland, respectively, and met each other in Chicago. (One of his Swedish forefathers was executed for embezzling!) Which President nominated Rehnquist to the position of Chief Justice?

Answer: Ronald Reagan

He succeeded Warren Burger in 1986. Nixon (who referred to him as Renchburg and thought he was Jewish) nominated jovial, archconservative Assistant Attorney General Rehnquist for associate justice in 1971. Incidentally, both Rehnquist's predecessors as Chief Justice, Burger and Earl Warren (himself of Swedish stock) had Swedish wives. Do we see some kind of pattern here? Probably not... (If you are in the least interested in the politics of the Supreme Court nominations, allow me to recommend the most interesting book 'The Rehnquist Choice' by John W. Dean).
10. The surname Soderberg is pretty common in Sweden (it means 'southern mountain'). It should come as no surprise, therefore, that Hollywood hotshot director Steven Soderbergh's grandfather came from Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. In the year 2000, what first in Oscar history did Soderbergh achieve?

Answer: Having two films each nominated in the Best Director and Best movie categories

The pictures were 'Traffic' and 'Erin Brockovich'. Soderbergh landed the statuette as Best Director for 'Traffic'. The Oscar for best actress went to Julia Roberts for her work in 'Erin Brockovich'. Did I mention that Roberts has a Swedish grandmother...?
Source: Author jensj2

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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