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The U.S. Civil War Trivia Quiz

This quiz will test your knowledge of the civil war. Good luck, and enjoy! There are no hints for any of the questions, so you're on your own.

A multiple-choice quiz by raghudhara. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
raghudhara

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
326,464

Updated
May 28 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
6460

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (10/10), Guest 212 (7/10), Guest 209 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The firing at which fort started the Civil War? Hint

Fort Sumter

Fort Charleston

Fort Wagner

Fort Wallace

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. On what day did the war begin? Hint

April 12, 1865

April 12, 1863

April 12, 1861

April 12, 1862

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was the first major battle of the war? Hint

Siege of Vicksburg

Antietam

1st Battle of Bull Run/Manassas

Gettysburg

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What was the biggest killer in the war? Hint

Malaria

Bullets

Diptheria

Diarrhea

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Who proposed the Anaconda plan? Hint

Abraham Lincoln

Tecumseh Sherman

Winfield Scott

Ulysses Grant

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Question 6 of 10

6. About how many people, including civilians, died in the American Civil War?
Hint

320,000

1,300,000

900,000

620,000

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What was the single bloodiest day of the war? Hint

Manassas

Antietam

Chancellorsville

Atlanta

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. How many states in total seceded from the Union? Hint

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Where did General Lee surrender? Hint

Appomattox Court House

Vicksburg

Washington, DC

Richmond

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of Robert E. Lee's horse? Hint

Traveller

Rebel

Yankee

Graycoat

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Most Recent Scores

Jun 12 2025 : Guest 24: 10/10
Jun 03 2025 : Guest 212: 7/10
Jun 03 2025 : Guest 209: 9/10
Jun 02 2025 : Guest 188: 10/10
May 30 2025 : Guest 35: 7/10
May 28 2025 : Guest 47: 1/10
May 28 2025 : Guest 108: 7/10
May 26 2025 : Buddy1: 10/10
May 26 2025 : Nhoj_too: 3/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The firing at which fort started the Civil War?

Answer: Fort Sumter

The firing at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina started the civil war. Here Confederate soldiers tried to take the Union-controlled fort. The Confederates fired the first shots of the war.

2. On what day did the war begin?

Answer: April 12, 1861

The firing at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12, 1861 started the civil war.

3. What was the first major battle of the war?

Answer: 1st Battle of Bull Run/Manassas

The first major battle of the civil war was the 1st Battle of Bull Run/Manassas. Most battles have two names, as each side named it differently. The North used geographical landforms (Bull Run) and the South used cities (Manassas).

4. What was the biggest killer in the war?

Answer: Diarrhea

Diarrhea/dysentery -- due to the unsanitary conditions of army camps e.g. soldiers would drink, bathe, and defecate in the same water.

5. Who proposed the Anaconda plan?

Answer: Winfield Scott

The Anaconda plan was a plan that stated that the only way to get the South to surrender was to surround it like a great "snake". When Scott first propsed this plan, everyone laughed at him. However, as it turned out, this blockade of the South played a key role in the Union's victory.

6. About how many people, including civilians, died in the American Civil War?

Answer: 620,000

Nearly 620,000 people died in and as a result of the Civil War. In other words, it killed about 2.1% of the US population!

7. What was the single bloodiest day of the war?

Answer: Antietam

More people died in 45 minutes at Antietam than died in the Revolutionary, 1812, and Mexican-American Wars combined.

8. How many states in total seceded from the Union?

Answer: 11

The eleven states are:

South Carolina
Mississippi
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Louisiana
Texas
Virginia
Arkansas
Tennessee
North Carolina

9. Where did General Lee surrender?

Answer: Appomattox Court House

General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

10. What was the name of Robert E. Lee's horse?

Answer: Traveller

Kudos to you if you got it right!

Source: Author raghudhara

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