FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

20th Century USA Trivia Quiz

Interesting trivia about 20th century America.

A multiple-choice quiz by Sprink1234. Estimated time: 8 mins.

Author
Sprink1234

Time
8 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
11,017

Updated
Jul 05 26

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
12 / 25

Plays
16862

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 98 (10/25), Guest 38 (4/25), Guest 216 (15/25).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. The landmark civil-rights case, Brown vs. Board of Education, originated from what state?

Answer: (One Word)

NEXT>

Question 2 of 25

2. Who shot President William McKinley in 1901? Hint

John Hinckley Jr.

Charles J. Guiteau

James Earl Ray

Leon Czolgosz

NEXT>

Question 3 of 25

3. When was the infamous San Francisco earthquake? Hint

1905

1907

1906

1908

NEXT>

Question 4 of 25

4. How many states joined the Union in the 20th century?

NEXT>

Question 5 of 25

5. What national landmark opened in Washington D.C. in 1922? Hint

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

Pentagon

NEXT>

Question 6 of 25

6. How much did a Model T sell for when it was introduced in 1908? Hint

$650

$1000

$850

$500

NEXT>

Question 7 of 25

7. Which census declared that the U.S. population had reached 100 million? Hint

1930

1940

1910

1920

NEXT>

Question 8 of 25

8. What medical breakthrough occurred in 1955? Hint

Polio vaccine

Discovery of DNA

Development of Penicillin

First heart transplant

NEXT>

Question 9 of 25

9. When did the first Walmart open? Hint

1962

1970

1953

1977

NEXT>

Question 10 of 25

10. Where did Martin Luther King, Jr. give his famous 'I have a dream ...' speech? Hint

Memphis, Tennessee

The White House

US Capital building

Lincoln Memorial

NEXT>

Question 11 of 25

11. From whom did Dan Rather take over on the CBS evening news in 1981? Hint

Chet Huntley

David Brinkley

Walter Cronkite

John Chancellor

NEXT>

Question 12 of 25

12. In 1973, when Gerald Ford replaced Spiro Agnew as vice-president, he became the first appointed vice-president in U.S. history. What position had he held? Hint

Secretary of State

House Majority Leader

Speaker of the House

House Minority Leader

NEXT>

Question 13 of 25

13. When American Charles Lindbergh made aviation history by flying non-stop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean, where did he land? Hint

London

Madrid

Lisbon

Paris

NEXT>

Question 14 of 25

14. The Boston Marathon began in 1896. When did the New York Marathon begin? Hint

1925

1933

1947

1970

NEXT>

Question 15 of 25

15. 'The Star-Spangled Banner', originally written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, became the national anthem in what year? Hint

1926

1945

1931

1916

NEXT>

Question 16 of 25

16. In 1900, Eastman Kodak introduced its $1 ____________ camera, making photography accessible to everyone. Hint

Polaroid

Box Brownie

Vanity

Bantam Special

NEXT>

Question 17 of 25

17. Oliver North worked for what agency or department? Hint

National Security Council

US Air Force

CIA

State Department

NEXT>

Question 18 of 25

18. The world saw its first billionaire in the 20th century. Who was he? Hint

Nelson Rockefeller

William Vanderbilt

Henry Ford

John D. Rockefeller

NEXT>

Question 19 of 25

19. By what name is Theodore Geisel, author of children's books, better known as?

Dr. Seuss

Mark Twain

NEXT>

Question 20 of 25

20. In 1933, during the Great Depression, unemployment peaked at what percentage? Hint

Almost10 percent

18 percent

Almost 25 percent

15 percent

NEXT>

Question 21 of 25

21. What does the 26th Amendment, adopted in 1971, address? Hint

Presidential Succession

Voting Age

Compensation for Members of Congress

Poll Tax

NEXT>

Question 22 of 25

22. In 1947, the National Security Act created the Defense Department and the ______ . Hint

National Guard

CIA

Secret Service

ATF Bureau

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. In what decade did the Dow Jones Industial Average first cross the 1000-point mark? Hint

1950s

1940s

1960s

1970s

NEXT>

Question 24 of 25

24. What was the name of the first space shuttle? Hint

Columbia

Discovery

Challenger

Atlantis

NEXT>

Question 25 of 25

25. What cartoon character made his debut in 1928 in the cartoon short 'Steamboat Willie'?

Mickey Mouse

Donald Duck

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Jul 05 2026 : Guest 98: 10/25
Jul 04 2026 : Guest 38: 4/25
Jul 04 2026 : Guest 216: 15/25
Jul 04 2026 : Guest 108: 9/25
Jul 04 2026 : Mathis3k: 12/25
Jul 03 2026 : Guest 174: 13/25
Jul 02 2026 : Guest 216: 15/25
Jul 01 2026 : Guest 76: 17/25
Jun 30 2026 : Guest 206: 5/25

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The landmark civil-rights case, Brown vs. Board of Education, originated from what state?

Answer: Kansas

In Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court rules unanimously that racial segregation violates the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

2. Who shot President William McKinley in 1901?

Answer: Leon Czolgosz

President William McKinley was assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo, New York, at the World's Fair. Theodore Roosevelt becomes president at age 42. Hinckley shot Ronald Reagan. Ray shot Martin Luther King, Jr. Guiteau shot James A. Garfield. Booth shot Abraham Lincoln.

3. When was the infamous San Francisco earthquake?

Answer: 1906

The Great Earthquake of 1906 killed 2500 people.

4. How many states joined the Union in the 20th century?

Answer: 5

Oklahoma was the first of the century in 1907. New Mexico and Arizona in 1912. Alaska and Hawaii in 1959.

5. What national landmark opened in Washington D.C. in 1922?

Answer: Lincoln Memorial

Built at a cost of $3 million, the Lincoln Memorial opens on the shores of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.

6. How much did a Model T sell for when it was introduced in 1908?

Answer: $850

The Model T, according to Henry Ford, was available 'in any color you choose, so long as it's black.' Before the introduction of the assembly line, the Model T was available in 7 colors.

7. Which census declared that the U.S. population had reached 100 million?

Answer: 1920

In 1787 the Constitution mandated a decennial census as a mechanism to determine the number of representatives each state would have in the House of Representatives. The first census, in 1790, found that the population was 3.9 million people.

8. What medical breakthrough occurred in 1955?

Answer: Polio vaccine

The polio vaccine, developed by microbiologist Jonas Salk, is declared safe for use. Just three years prior, polio had stricken over 50,000 Americans.

9. When did the first Walmart open?

Answer: 1962

After 17 years of operating franchise retail stores, Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City in 1962. The company flourished, went public (1970), and became (1991) America's largest retailer-a multibillion dollar business that made him one of the world's richest people.

10. Where did Martin Luther King, Jr. give his famous 'I have a dream ...' speech?

Answer: Lincoln Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr., delivers his famous, 'I have a dream' speech at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation. More than 200,000 Americans march to demonstrate civil rights support.

11. From whom did Dan Rather take over on the CBS evening news in 1981?

Answer: Walter Cronkite

From 1962 to 1981 he was the anchorman of the Columbia Broadcasting System's evening television news program.

12. In 1973, when Gerald Ford replaced Spiro Agnew as vice-president, he became the first appointed vice-president in U.S. history. What position had he held?

Answer: House Minority Leader

A Republican congressman from Michigan (1949-73), he served (1965-73) as Republican minority leader in the House and was (1968, 1972) permanent chairman of the Republican National Convention. In 1973 Ford became the first appointed vice president of the USA, in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.

13. When American Charles Lindbergh made aviation history by flying non-stop and solo across the Atlantic Ocean, where did he land?

Answer: Paris

Cheers greet the Spirit of St. Louis when Charles Lindbergh lands this plane in Paris. It is the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight in the history of aviation. Lindbergh flew 3,600 miles in over 33 hours, forsaking a radio for additional gasoline.

14. The Boston Marathon began in 1896. When did the New York Marathon begin?

Answer: 1970

126 runners showed up for the first New York Marathon. They ran around Central Park four times.

15. 'The Star-Spangled Banner', originally written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, became the national anthem in what year?

Answer: 1931

Its designation as the National Anthem by executive order in 1916 was confirmed by an act of Congress in 1931.

16. In 1900, Eastman Kodak introduced its $1 ____________ camera, making photography accessible to everyone.

Answer: Box Brownie

Photography was revolutionized by inventor and manufacturer George Eastman.

17. Oliver North worked for what agency or department?

Answer: National Security Council

Discovery of the arrangement to sell arms for hostages in 1986 shook the Reagan administration. Most directly involved were Adm. John Poindexter and Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, both of the National Security Council (NSC).

18. The world saw its first billionaire in the 20th century. Who was he?

Answer: John D. Rockefeller

Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller made his fortune pioneering the American petroleum industry. He was declared a billionaire in 1909. He was also a very generous contributor to worthy causes and gave away over $550 million during his lifetime.

19. By what name is Theodore Geisel, author of children's books, better known as?

Answer: Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel, 1904-91, American author and illustrator of children's {books;} b. Springfield, Mass. His books blend whimsy, zany humor, catchy verse, and outlandish illustrations. His style is evidenced in Horton Hears a Who (1954), The Cat in the Hat (1957), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957), and Green Eggs and Ham (1960).

20. In 1933, during the Great Depression, unemployment peaked at what percentage?

Answer: Almost 25 percent

The number of unemployed Americans rose from 1.6 million in 1929 to 12.8 million in 1933 -- 24.9%.

21. What does the 26th Amendment, adopted in 1971, address?

Answer: Voting Age

The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

22. In 1947, the National Security Act created the Defense Department and the ______ .

Answer: CIA

The Central Intelligence Agency conducts intelligence and counterintelligence activities outside the US. It also engages in domestic counterintelligence operations, but only in coordination with the Federal Bureau Of Investigation and subject to the attorney general's approval.

23. In what decade did the Dow Jones Industial Average first cross the 1000-point mark?

Answer: 1970s

The Dow reached the 1000-point mark for the first time in 1972.

24. What was the name of the first space shuttle?

Answer: Columbia

Columbia completes its first mission in space in 1982. It was the first space shuttle, which allowed vehicles to be reused in space missions.

25. What cartoon character made his debut in 1928 in the cartoon short 'Steamboat Willie'?

Answer: Mickey Mouse

In 1928, Walter Elias Disney created the character of Mickey Mouse in the cartoon short 'Steamboat Willie'. The full-length feature starring Mickey, 'Fantasia', was released in 1940.

Source: Author Sprink1234

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trammgr before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.