By Jim MacDonald
Answers to Questions: What Made America Great – Secrets Removed from History
The following are 50 questions and answers to the Facebook posts made daily for 50 days. All questions came from the quiz in the back of the book I’ve recently published called ‘What Made America Great: Secrets Removed from History’ available on Amazon. See if you can answer these questions correctly.
Question 1:
Who is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence?
a. Ben Franklin
b. James Madison
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. George Washington
The answer is ‘c’ – Thomas Jefferson.
Question 2:
What day do we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
a. Memorial Day
b. July 4th
c. Labor Day
d. Thanksgiving Day
The answer is ‘b’ – July 4th Independence Day
Question 3:
During the early beginnings of our nation, which of the following were taught in schools?
a. The Holy Bible
b. The Declaration of Independence
c. The Constitution of the United States
d. All of the above
The answer is ‘d’ – All of the above
Question 4:
The Constitution of the United States sparked freedom in the hearts and minds of Americans. By 1899, how many patents had been registered with the government?
a. Just under 50,000
b. Just over 100,000
c. Under 500,000
d. Well over 600,000
The answer is ‘d’
Question 5:
How many men from the 13 states signed the Declaration of Independence?
a. 13 men
b. 39 men
c. 42 men
d. 56 men
The answer is ‘d’
Question 6:
How many references to God are written in the Declaration of Independence?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 6
d. 8
The answer is ‘b’
Question 7:
The Declaration of Independence says “…That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers _____________________.
a. From God
b. From the government
c. From the consent of the governed
d. From the President
The answer is ‘c’
Question 8:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights.” This comes from what American document?
a. The Declaration of Independence
b. The Constitution of the United States
c. The Articles of Confederation
d. The Federalist Papers
The answer is ‘a’
Question 9:
Referencing the Declaration of Independence, “And for the support of the Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection _____, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”?
a. Of the United States Military
b. Of divine Providence
c. From the king of England
d. Of our government
The answer is ‘b’
Question 10:
Who fired the “shot that was heard around the world?”
a. The British
b. The American Colonies
c. Samuel Adams
d. No one knows
The answer is ‘d’
Question 11:
The following states signed the Declaration of Independence: Georgia; North Carolina; South Carolina; Massachusetts; Maryland; Virginia; Pennsylvania; Delaware; New York; New Jersey; Connecticut, _______; ________.
a. Maine Vermont
b. Florida; West Virginia
c. Vermont; Tennessee
d. New Hampshire; Rhode Island
The answer is ‘d’
Question 12:
George Washington and Alexander Hamilton both signed the Declaration of Independence.
a. True – Both signed it
b. False – Neither signed it
c. Just George Washington signed it
d. Just Alexander Hamilton signed it
The answer is ‘b’
Question 13:
In the Constitution “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect ________,”
a. Country
b. Nation
c. Union
d. Government
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 14:
In the Constitution of the United States, Article I pertains to:
a. The President’s limited powers
b. The Congress’ limited powers
c. The Judiciary’s limited powers
d. Proposing and passing amendments to the Constitution
The answer is ‘b’.
Question 15:
In the Constitution of the United States, Article II pertains to:
a. The President’s limited powers
b. The Congress’ limited powers
c. The Judiciary’s limited powers
d. Proposing and passing amendments to the Constitution
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 16:
In the Constitution of the United States, Article III pertains to:
a. The President’s limited powers
b. The Congress’ limited powers
c. The Judiciary’s limited powers
d. Proposing and passing amendments to the Constitution
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 17:
In the Constitution of the United States, Article V pertains to:
a. The President’s limited powers
b. The Congress’ limited powers
c. The Judiciary’s limited powers
d. Proposing and passing amendments to the Constitution
The answer is ‘d’
Question 18:
How many men signed the Constitution of the United States?
a. 13
b. 39
c. 42
d. 56
The answer is b.
Question 19:
How many men signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States?
a. 6
b. 9
c. 13
d. 21
The answer is ‘a’
Question 20:
What year was the Constitution of the United States signed by the Continental Congress?
a. 1779
b. 1787
c. 1789
d. 1792
The answer is ‘b’
Question 21:
How many Articles and how many Amendments are currently written in the Constitution of the United States?
a. 5 Articles and 12 Amendments
b. 7 Articles and 12 Amendments
c. 7 Articles and 27 Amendments
d. 9 Articles and 27 Amendments
The answer is ‘c’
Question 22:
Who or what determines how many Supreme Court Justices sit on the Bench?
a. The Constitution of the United States?
b. The President
c. The Congress
d. The Declaration of Independence
The answer is ‘c’
Question 23:
According to the Constitution, which branch of government has “All Legislative Power” to make laws?
a. The President
b. The Congress
c. The Supreme Court
d. The Administrative Branch
The answer is ‘b’
Question 24:
How many years does each of the Houses of Congress serve per term?
a. The House serves 2 years and the Senate serves 4 years
b. The House serves 4 years and the Senate serves 6 years
c. The House serves 2 years and the Senate serves 6 years
d. The House serves 4 years and the Senate serves 4 years
The answer is ‘c’
Question 25:
How many House of Representatives and how many Senators serve in Washington, D.C.?
a. 200 House of Representatives and 100 Senators
b. 400 House of Representatives and 200 Senators
c. 355 House of Representatives and 200 Senators
d. 435 House of Representatives and 100 Senators
The answer is ‘d’.
We are halfway there
Question 26:
Who is the President of the Senate according to the Constitution of the United States?
a. The Speaker of the House
b. Senate Majority Leader
c. The President of the United States
d. The Vice President of the United States
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 27:
According to the Constitution “All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the ____________?
a. The House of Representatives
b. The Senate
c. The executive Branch
d. The Judicial Branch
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 28:
According to the Constitution, how do states determine how many electoral votes they receive in a presidential election?
a. By the number of registered voters
b. By the population of the state
c. By the number of Senators and House of Representatives in Congress
d. By the size of the state
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 29:
Should the President become unable to serve for a period of time, the Vice President will take on the duties of the President. Who is next in line for President should the Vice President become unable to serve?
a. The Secretary of State
b. Chief of Staff
c. The Secretary of Defense
d. Speaker of the House of Representatives
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 30:
The Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President and serve a term of:
a. 4 years but not more than 2 terms
b. 6 years but not more than 2 terms
c. 2 years but not more than 4 terms
d. Life, bases on good behavior
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 31:
The Supreme Court Justices are to make their decisions based on the following criteria:
a. Their personal interpretation of the Constitution
b. The Constitution is a living breathing document that changes with time
c. The original intent of the Constitution
d. Based on political expediency
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 32:
A proposed amendment may be sent to the states for ratification when:
a. 51% of the House of Representatives and the Senate pass it and the President signs it
b. Two-thirds of the House of Representatives and Senate pass it
c. When two-thirds of the state’s legislative convention pass it
d. Either answer b or c
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 33:
Before an amendment becomes a law, __________must ratify the amendment.
a. Three-quarters of the state’s legislative convention
b. 51% of the state’s legislative convention
c. Three-quarters of the state governors
d. The President of the United States
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 34:
Which of the following two Founders did not sign the Constitution of the United States
a. George Washington and Roger Sherman
b. Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams
c. Ben Franklin and James Wilson
d. Alexander Hamilton and George Read
The answer is ‘b’.
Question 35:
Which of the original 13 states was not present during the signing of the Constitution?
a. Maryland
b. New Hampshire
c. Rhode Island
d. Georgia
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 36:
How many Bill of Rights were originally sent to the states for ratification?
a. 8
b. 10
c. 12
d. 14
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 37:
Which amendment speaks of “The separation of church and state”?
a. The first amendment
b. The second amendment
c. The fourth amendment
d. There’s nothing in the Constitution that speaks of a separation of church and state
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 38:
The second amendment guarantees our right to “…keep and bear Arms”, which means:
a. The people may own pistols
b. The people may own rifles
c. The people may own as many guns as they choose
d. All the above
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 39:
Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
a. This is the sixth amendment
b. This is the seventh amendment
c. This is the tenth amendment
d. This is the twelfth amendment
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 40:
Which amendment made slavery unconstitutional?
a. The thirteenth amendment
b. The fourteenth amendment
c. The eighteenth amendment
d. The twentieth amendment
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 41:
Which amendment allowed all citizens of the United States to vote regardless of race?
a. The thirteenth amendment
b. The fifteenth amendment
c. The seventeenth amendment
d. The twentieth amendment
The answer is ‘b’.
Question 42:
Which amendment gave Congress the ability to charge the American People taxes on our income in the year 1913?
a. The sixteenth amendment
b. The eighteenth amendment
c. The twentieth amendment
d. The twenty-fifth amendment
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 43:
Which amendment took over 202 years to be ratified by the states?
a. The eleventh amendment
b. The fifteenth amendment
c. The twentieth amendment
d. The twenty-seventh amendment
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 44:
Who called the Federalist Papers “the best commentary on the principals of government, which ever was written”?
a. Ben Franklin
b. George Washington
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. Samuel Adams
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 45:
Which Founding Father was not involved in the writings of the Federalist Papers?
a. Alexander Hamilton
b. John Jay
c. James Madison
d. John Adams
The answer is ‘d’.
Question 46:
Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.
a. Ben Franklin said this
b. James Monroe said this
c. Patrick Henry said this
d. George Washington said this
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 47:
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.
a. Quote by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Jay
b. Quote by President George Washington
c. Quote by Secretary of State Edmund Jennings Randolph
d. Quote by U.S. Senator George Read
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 48:
Who declared that “religion is deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet proved by our experience to be its best support?”
a. Alexander Hamilton
b. John Hancock
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. Ben Franklin
The answer is ‘c’.
Question 49:
Who is quoted as saying: Where, say some, is the king of America? I’ll tell you, friend, He reigns above.
a. Thomas Paine
b. William Paterson
c. George Mason
d. Roger Sherman
The answer is ‘a’.
Question 50:
Which Founder said: “I have alternately been called an Aristocrat and a Democrat. I am neither. I am a Christocrat.”
a. Benjamin Rush
b. Ben Franklin
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. George Read
The answer is ‘a’.