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Early US Government Trivia Quiz

If you paid attention in high school this shouldn't be too tough. Let's hope you had a good teacher.

A multiple-choice quiz by sae254527. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
sae254527

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
225,320

Updated
Jul 12 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
4551

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: slay01 (10/10), Guest 38 (7/10), frozennugget (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the first successful English colony established in the present United States? Hint

New Amsterdam

Roanoke

Jamestown

Plymouth

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Question 2 of 10

2. What King was reigning in England when the colonists decided they wanted to fight for independence? Hint

Edward V

Edmund III

William II

George III

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which philosopher influenced the authors of the Declaration of Independence? Hint

Thomas Hobbes

John Locke

Alexis Dumerville

Karl Marx

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Question 4 of 10

4. What social contract did the colonies operate under during the Revolutionary War? Hint

Second Continental Congress & Articles of Confederation

Declaration of Independence

Constitution

Declaration of Human Rights

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Question 5 of 10

5. Before George Washington became the first President of the United States, how did he earn his money? Hint

He was a shoe shine

He ran a tavern called the Wooden Tooth

He was a horse thief

He was a surveyor

6. Although the American Bill of Rights was partly inspired by the English Bill of Rights of 1689, who is most often credited with coming up with the idea of adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution? Hint

Ben Franklin

James Madison

John Adams

John Hancock

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Question 7 of 10

7. What evidence can be found within the Constitution that proves that it is a living document, that can be changed over time? Hint

The Articles

The Ratification Guidelines

The Preamble

The Amendments

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Question 8 of 10

8. The amendment ratified in May 1992 was the ____ amendment made to the U.S. Constitution. Hint

31st

19th

27th

23rd

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Question 9 of 10

9. What social contract was written by a group of lost pilgrims who eventually settled in the the Massachusetts area? Hint

Magna Carta

Albany Plan

Mayflower Compact

New Plymouth Charter

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of the first legislature in the US, founded in 1619? Hint

House of Burgesses

House of Representatives

House of Commons

House of Lords

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 09 2024 : slay01: 10/10
Mar 30 2024 : Guest 38: 7/10
Mar 29 2024 : frozennugget: 9/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 174: 8/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 64: 9/10
Mar 16 2024 : creekerjess: 7/10
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 148: 6/10
Mar 12 2024 : rivenproctor: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the first successful English colony established in the present United States?

Answer: Jamestown

Roanoke was first but since everyone disappeared without trace, you can't really consider it to have been a success.

2. What King was reigning in England when the colonists decided they wanted to fight for independence?

Answer: George III

If only George had eased up on the taxes a bit, we might have the saying ... American as eel pie!

3. Which philosopher influenced the authors of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer: John Locke

Hopefully you know that the main author was Thomas Jefferson, you should also know that he replaced Locke's right to property with our right to the pursuit of happiness.

4. What social contract did the colonies operate under during the Revolutionary War?

Answer: Second Continental Congress & Articles of Confederation

The Second Continental Congress acted as the central government until 1781 when the Articles were adopted. The articles were dropped after the war due to their extreme lack of effectiveness.

5. Before George Washington became the first President of the United States, how did he earn his money?

Answer: He was a surveyor

Hopefully you didnt think the first President was a criminal ... although his military record probably should have led to a charge of manslaugter against his own troops.

Answer: James Madison

They were all good men, but only one led us down the road to words like penumbra, and phrases like right to privacy.

7. What evidence can be found within the Constitution that proves that it is a living document, that can be changed over time?

Answer: The Amendments

The amendments have been added to the Constitution over time, which means the document is still alive and subject to change ...that means the people of the USA still have a chance to help write their Constitution, if necessary.

8. The amendment ratified in May 1992 was the ____ amendment made to the U.S. Constitution.

Answer: 27th

We have changed our living document 18 times ... the first ten amendments were ratified simultaneously in December 1791 (known as the Bill of Rights).

The 27th amendment delayed laws affecting Congressional salaries from taking effect until after the next election.

9. What social contract was written by a group of lost pilgrims who eventually settled in the the Massachusetts area?

Answer: Mayflower Compact

The pilgrims had time for politics during all the turkey eating and savage converting.

10. What was the name of the first legislature in the US, founded in 1619?

Answer: House of Burgesses

Yes, the first meeting of our country's fanciest lads took place in Jamestowns House of Bugesses - not to be confused with Lady Virginia's House of Virginians.

Source: Author sae254527

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