Test Your Knowledge of Fourth of July

We took tests on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Saint Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s and Easter (click titles to view). So here we go with one for the Fourth of July. How’s your understanding when it comes to Independence Day and its history ~ past and present? Let’s find out (answers below and page links to where answers were gained)…

1. It was on July 4th in which year that 13 colonies of an infant United States declared its independence from Great Britain:

(a) 1767;
(b) 1766;
(c) 1776;
(d) 1775.

2. The Declaration of Independence begins like this:

(a) We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal;
(b) Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth;
(c) When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve;
(d) We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union.

3. Three U.S. Presidents died on July 4th: James Monroe (1831), John Adams (1826) and Thomas Jefferson (1826). The latter two were signers of the Declaration of Independence. Which President was born on July 4th?

(a) Ronald Reagan;
(b) Calvin Coolidge;
(c) Abraham Lincoln;
(d) Barack Obama.

4. There are currently approximately 310 million people living in the United States of America. About how many people were living here at the time of the Declaration of Independence?

(a) 2.5 million;
(b) 100,000;
(c) 500,000;
(d) 1 million.

5. Who was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence?

(a) Benjamin Franklin;
(b) John Grisham;
(c) John Adams;
(d) Thomas Jefferson.

6. The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted in which city?

(a) Philadephia;
(b) Phoenix;
(c) Pittsburgh;
(d) Portland.

7. In a non-scientific online poll, most Americans responded that they will celebrate 4th of July as follows:

(a) Watching fireworks;
(b) Staying in/watching fireworks on TV;
(c) Barbecue/picnic;
(d) Setting off fireworks.

Answers: 1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (d) 6. (a) 7. (d)

(Picture above in the public domain: click here.)

(This test was developed and based on information from the following websites: Independence Day (United States); The Declaration of Independence; The Gettysburg Address; Constitution of the United States; A Capitol Fourth; Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?; Fourth of July – FactMonster.com; How will you celebrate the Fourth of July?)