Things That Went Bump In The Night Multiple Choice Quiz | History

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On the night of April 18, 1775, which American patriot rode his horse from Boston to Concord to warn of British troops coming to imprison the rebellion leaders?

Answer: Paul Revere

As part of the American Revolution, when American patriots received word of British troops arriving, Paul Revere was sent to warn the leaders of the American rebellion (Massachusetts Provincial Congress - namely Samuel Adams and John Hancock). William Dawes was also sent out with Paul Revere but took a different route.

The two also met up with Dr. Samuel Prescott in Lexington. Paul Revere left Boston at around 10pm and was in Lexington by 1am, but on the way to Concord was captured by British soldiers.

The British confiscated Revere's horse, but he was still able to make it to Samuel Adams and John Hancock and assisted in their escape.

2. On the night of April 14, 1912, the British passenger liner, the Titanic, was struck by an iceberg. It had left Southampton four days earlier, but sank in the early morning of April 15th. Where was the ship headed before it was hit that fateful night?

Answer: New York City, New York

It was the maiden voyage of the Titanic and the liner carried 2,224 passengers and crew members, but over 1,500 people were killed. The Titanic left Southampton on April 10, 1912, called at Cherbourg, France on April 10th and Queenstown, Ireland on April 11th. It was destined for New York City and expected to arrive April 16-17th.

3. On the night of April 14, 1865, while watching a play at Ford's Theater, which U.S. president was shot and killed?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Only five days after the ending of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. But the plan to kidnap or kill him had been in the works for weeks. Acclaimed actor John Wilkes Booth wanted to throw the US government into disarray and planned to kill Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, and William H. Seward. Booth knew that Lincoln was attending a production of "Our American Cousin" in a private box, which he then sneaked into, and killed him.

He then shouted "Sic semper tyrannis" from the stage, and was on the run, leading to one of the country's largest manhunts.

4. On the night of August 20, 1968, the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies including Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria invaded which country in an attempt to stop political liberalization there?

Answer: Czechoslovakia

The Soviet Union was scared that a detrimental liberalization was occurring in Czechoslovakia and would lead across eastern Europe. The Czechoslovak leadership had put an end to censorship and political surveillance by the secret police - these ideals were considered too liberal and a threat to the Soviet Union. Talks proved futile, so on the night in question, the Warsaw Pact invaded Czechoslovakia - including 200,000 troops and 2,000 tanks. Ultimately Czechoslovakia signed the Moscow Protocol - to protect socialism and denounce the reform advances previously made.

It also kept Soviet forces in Czechoslovakia until 1991.

5. Just after midnight on June 5, 1968, Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated. Kennedy had just finished giving a speech after winning California's Democratic presidential primary when he was shot by Sirhan Sirhan. Where did this fateful shooting occur?

Answer: Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles

After addressing his supporters in the ballroom at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, Robert "Bobby" Kennedy went through the crowded kitchen where he was then shot. Five other people were also wounded in the shooting.

6. On the night of April 16, 1961, the CIA led 1,400 ground troops and tanks into Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro and the Communist government of Cuba. What is this invasion known as?

Answer: Bay of Pigs Invasion

After the Cuban Revolution exiled Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro became Prime Minister of Cuba, and US ties were severed. In 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the CIA $13.1 million to overthrow Cuba's government. Under the command of new President John F. Kennedy, the attack was executed, but it failed.

After three days of military action against a strong Cuban force and with many troops thrown into Cuban prisons, the US abandoned the invasion attempt.

7. As rumor has it, a cow tipped over a lantern, setting a barn on fire. On the night of October 8, 1871, a fire destroyed 3.3 square miles of which city?

Answer: Chicago

The Great Chicago Fire burned from Sunday, October 8 to October 10, 1871. The fire destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city, killing 300 people and leaving more than 100,000 people homeless. The fire was traced back to a barn, but a cow tipping over a lantern is just a popular rumor. The "Chicago Republican" reporter who wrote the story later said that he made it up.

8. Also, on the night of October 8, 1871, an even greater fire destroyed 1,875 square miles of forest, 12 communities and killed over 1,500 people. Where did this fire occur?

Answer: Peshtigo, Wisconsin

The Peshtigo fire was caused by a small forest fire used to clear forest land but when winds picked it up it turned into a firestorm killing more people than any other fire in U.S. history. An area twice of the size of Rhode Island was destroyed, and left 350 people who could not be identified in a mass grave. Peshtigo is a small city in Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan.

In the same night, Michigan was ravaged by several forest fires as well as the city of Port Huron.

9. Another night, another military invasion. After midnight, during the early morning hours of December 20, 1989, under the code name Operation Just Cause, the United States invaded which country under the justification of saving American lives and defending democracy and human rights?

Answer: Panama

Ten years after President Jimmy Carter signed the Torrijos-Carter treaties, relations between the United States and Panama deteriorated and under President George H.W. Bush, the US Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force all provided support in the attack on Panama.

The invasion resulted in hundreds of deaths on both the Panama and American side, and Panamanian general Noriega was deposed and president-elect Guillermo Endara sworn into office.

10. On the night of November 9, 1938, Nazi Germany carried out a series of deadly attacks against Jewish homes, hospitals, schools and synagogues in Germany and Austria. An unknown number of people were killed, arrested and thrown in concentration camps, marking the beginning of the Holocaust. In English, what is this night known as?

Answer: Night of Broken Glass

Known as Kristallnacht in German and usually translated as The Night of Broken Glass in English, the name comes from all the shards of broken glass left on the ground after the Jewish shop windows and show cases were smashed by Nazi stormtroopers.

Source: Author napierslogs

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Things That Went Bump In The Night Quiz

A quiz on historical moments when thing went bump in the night. It's a time rife with military invasions, political assassinations and massive destruction.

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