Which event do we celebrate during the 4th of July? The ratification of the Constitution Correct Incorrect The ratification of the Constitution The signing of the Declaration of Independence Correct Incorrect The signing of the Declaration of Independence The crossing of the Delaware River Correct Incorrect The crossing of the Delaware River The anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg Correct Incorrect The anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg Correct! Wrong! The signing of the Declaration of Independence While Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all wrote that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, subsequent research has led some historians to believe that August 2 is the actual signing date. Most signatories wouldn't have even been members of Congress on July 4, technically. Which president was said to have been too honest to lie to his father about chopping down a cherry tree? Abraham Lincoln Correct Incorrect Abraham Lincoln James Monroe Correct Incorrect James Monroe Thomas Jefferson Correct Incorrect Thomas Jefferson George Washington Correct Incorrect George Washington Correct! Wrong! George Washington In an ironic twist, one of Washington’s first biographers, Mason Locke Weems, invented the story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree to valorize his honesty. The cherry tree myth wasn’t added until the book’s fifth edition was published. Abraham Lincoln earned the nickname "Honest Abe," just not because he ever chopped down any cherry trees. Why did the pilgrims come to America? To search for religious freedom Correct Incorrect To search for religious freedom To own more property than they would in Europe Correct Incorrect To own more property than they would in Europe To learn new farming techniques Correct Incorrect To learn new farming techniques To meet new people Correct Incorrect To meet new people Correct! Wrong! To search for religious freedom The Pilgrims left England because of religious persecution, but landed in Holland before making their way to America. They left Holland because they wanted to maintain their English identities and pursue better job opportunities. Who rode on horseback to warn the Minutemen that the British were coming during the Revolutionary War? Thomas Paine Correct Incorrect Thomas Paine Paul Revere Correct Incorrect Paul Revere Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Correct Incorrect Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Nathan Hale Correct Incorrect Nathan Hale Correct! Wrong! Paul Revere Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1860 poem “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” immortalized Revere as a Patriot hero for his ride through Massachusetts, but he left out a couple of details. Revere’s ride was part of an established network the Sons of Liberty had set up to spread information. He never even made it to Concord and was temporarily detained by the British. Who is credited with the original American flag design? George Washington Correct Incorrect George Washington Abigail Adams Correct Incorrect Abigail Adams Betsy Ross Correct Incorrect Betsy Ross Thomas Jefferson Correct Incorrect Thomas Jefferson Correct! Wrong! Betsy Ross The story of Betsy Ross's creation began to circulate when her grandson, William Canby, told the Historical Society of Pennsylvania that George Washington had commissioned her to create the flag. However, historians have found there’s little evidence to back up this claim. How many colonies were there, originally? 11 Correct Incorrect 11 13 Correct Incorrect 13 50 Correct Incorrect 50 52 Correct Incorrect 52 Correct! Wrong! 13 Well, sorta. Delaware was considered “The Lower Counties of Pennsylvania,” meaning that there were 12 colonies instead of 13. Which American inventor is widely credited with inventing the lightbulb? Benjamin Franklin Correct Incorrect Benjamin Franklin Thomas Edison Correct Incorrect Thomas Edison Jethro Tull Correct Incorrect Jethro Tull Eli Whitney Correct Incorrect Eli Whitney Correct! Wrong! Thomas Edison Thomas Edison would accumulate 1,093 patents in his life, but he considered his greatest invention to be the light bulb. While light bulbs were already in use on a street-wide level, he was the first person to figure out a safe way to light the home. Which of these prompted the Boston Tea Party? Tea Act Correct Incorrect Tea Act Coercive Acts Correct Incorrect Coercive Acts Stamp Act Correct Incorrect Stamp Act Tine Act Correct Incorrect Tine Act Correct! Wrong! Tea Act of 1772 New York, Charleston, and Philadelphia refused shipments of tea, as the act made it possible for the British East India Company to undersell to colonial merchants. Boston’s mayor accepted the shipments, so instead Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. They were dressed, regrettably, as Native Americans. Which famous traitor defected from the Continental Army to help the British in 1780? Joseph Reed Correct Incorrect Joseph Reed John Burgoyne Correct Incorrect John Burgoyne Edward Shippen Correct Incorrect Edward Shippen Benedict Arnold Correct Incorrect Benedict Arnold Correct! Wrong! Initial events, like the Boston Massacre, spurred many patriots into action. Arnold himself was said to have declared, “Good God, are the Americans all asleep and tamely giving up their glorious liberties?” upon hearing of the British shooting. But by 1776 many colonies had to work hard to recruit members for the Continental Army. Arnold ended up turning traitor due to personal, political, and financial reasons. Who is said to have discovered electricity when his kite was struck by lightning? Nikola Tesla Correct Incorrect Nikola Tesla Alessandro Volta Correct Incorrect Alessandro Volta Benjamin Franklin Correct Incorrect Benjamin Franklin Georg Wilhelm Richmann Correct Incorrect Georg Wilhelm Richmann Correct! Wrong! Benjamin Franklin Many experts now agree that, had lightning actually struck Franklin’s kite, he wouldn’t have lived to tell the tale. (In fact, that's what happened to Georg Wilhelm Richmann when he tried to reproduce the experiment.) Electricity was a known concept, used mostly for magic tricks, before Franklin’s famous experiment in 1752.
