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Quizzes > History

American history quiz: test your US knowledge

Quick, free United States history quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Giorgi JaparidzeUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for US history quiz on a golden yellow background

This American history quiz helps you check what you know about key events, leaders, and turning points. Answer short multiple-choice questions and see your score right away. Want more practice? Try our basic US history quiz, take on hard US history questions, or explore another United States history quiz.

Who was the first President of the United States?
James Madison
John Adams
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
George Washington served as the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 and is often referred to as the Father of His Country. His leadership helped establish the new governments structure and traditions. Washington set many key precedents, including the two-term limit for presidents.
Which document declared American independence from Britain?
Declaration of Independence
Bill of Rights
U.S. Constitution
Mayflower Compact
The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, formally announced the American colonies break from British rule. It articulated Enlightenment ideals such as natural rights and government by consent. This document remains a foundational symbol of American democracy.
Which war was fought between the Northern and Southern states of the U.S. from 1861 to 1865?
American Civil War
War of 1812
Spanish-American War
Revolutionary War
The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South). It was primarily about states rights and the future of slavery in the United States. The Unions victory preserved the nation and led to the abolition of slavery.
What is the supreme law of the land in the United States?
The U.S. Constitution
The Declaration of Independence
The Bill of Rights
The Articles of Confederation
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, establishing the framework of the federal government and its relationship to the states and citizens. It was ratified in 1788 and has been amended 27 times. All laws and government actions must comply with the Constitution.
In what year was the U.S. Constitution ratified and went into effect?
1788
1791
1781
1776
The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, meeting the requirement for its implementation. It officially replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789. The Constitution remains the oldest written national constitution still in use.
Which land acquisition in 1803 doubled the size of the United States?
Alaska Purchase
Gadsden Purchase
Florida Acquisition
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was completed in 1803 when the United States bought approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million. This deal doubled the size of the nation and opened up vast lands for exploration and settlement. President Thomas Jefferson orchestrated the purchase.
What was the primary purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (18041806)?
To explore and map the western territories
To negotiate with British Canada
To map a northern trade route to Asia
To establish settlements in California
Commissioned by President Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition to explore and map the newly acquired western territories. Their journey provided valuable information about geography, biology, and Native American cultures. The expedition greatly aided U.S. westward expansion.
What was the main effect of the Emancipation Proclamation issued in 1863?
It freed slaves only in Confederate-held territories
It freed slaves in all U.S. states
It ended the Civil War
It abolished slavery throughout the world
Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-controlled territories were to be free. It did not apply to slave-holding border states under Union control. The proclamation redefined the Civil War as a fight against slavery.
Which Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review in 1803?
Gibbons v. Ogden
McCulloch v. Maryland
Marbury v. Madison
Plessy v. Ferguson
In Marbury v. Madison (1803), Chief Justice John Marshall asserted the Supreme Courts authority to review and nullify congressional acts that conflict with the Constitution. This case established the doctrine of judicial review as a key check in the U.S. federal government. It remains a cornerstone of American constitutional law.
Which 1820 agreement maintained the balance of power between free and slave states?
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Missouri Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise
Compromise of 1850
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, preserving the Senates balance. It also prohibited slavery north of the 3630? latitude in the remaining Louisiana Purchase territory. The agreement provided a temporary solution to sectional conflict over slavery.
Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery?
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
12th Amendment
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment, ratified in December 1865, formally abolished slavery throughout the United States and its territories. It declared that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist, except as punishment for a crime. This amendment legally ended the institution of slavery in America.
In which year did the Supreme Court issue its decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford, ruling that African Americans could not be U.S. citizens?
1855
1857
1859
1861
The Supreme Court issued its Dred Scott decision on March 6, 1857, declaring that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in federal territories. This controversial ruling heightened national tensions over slavery and moved the nation closer to civil war. It was effectively overturned by the 14th Amendment in 1868.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Major Events -

    Recall and sequence key events such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, and other hallmark moments of US history.

  2. Identify Key Figures -

    Identify influential individuals like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other prominent leaders featured in basic US history questions.

  3. Describe Founding Documents -

    Describe major texts including the Constitution and Bill of Rights, understanding their origins and lasting significance.

  4. Analyze Cause-and-Effect -

    Analyze relationships between historic events and their consequences to gain deeper insights into America's development.

  5. Apply Trivia Strategies -

    Leverage quiz-taking skills to tackle simple American history questions and US history trivia game prompts with confidence.

  6. Evaluate Your Knowledge -

    Evaluate your grasp of American history through self-assessment of quiz results and identify areas for further exploration.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Founding Documents & Principles -

    Dive into the Declaration of Independence (1776) and U.S. Constitution (1787) to understand America's core values and governmental design. Use the mnemonic "Life, Liberty, Pursuit" to recall the Declaration's key phrase and remember 7 Articles plus 27 Amendments as the Constitution's framework (National Archives, Library of Congress).

  2. Civil War & Reconstruction -

    Study the Civil War (1861 - 1865) key events like the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and the Battle of Gettysburg to grasp the conflict's stakes. Then link the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments as the "Reconstruction Trilogy" that abolished slavery and defined citizenship and voting rights (Smithsonian National Museum of American History).

  3. Westward Expansion & Manifest Destiny -

    Review the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark expedition, and the 1862 Homestead Act granting 160 acres - think "160 acres per claim" to cement the frontier spirit. These milestones illustrate the idea of Manifest Destiny and how federal policy fueled settlement (National Park Service, Harvard University Press).

  4. Great Depression & New Deal Era -

    Understand the 1929 stock market crash's causes and President Roosevelt's New Deal relief programs like the CCC, TVA, and WPA. Recall CCC for Civilian Conservation, TVA for Tennessee Valley, and WPA for Works Progress to anchor key agencies that reshaped the federal government's role (Library of Congress, Federal Reserve History).

  5. Civil Rights Movement Milestones -

    Memorize Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Civil Rights Act (1964), and the Voting Rights Act (1965) using the sequence "54 - 64 - 65." These landmark decisions and laws dismantled segregation, outlawed discrimination, and protected voting rights (National Archives, American Bar Association).

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