QUIZ: How Much Do You Know About The US Founding Fathers?
A. Nobody
B. John Hancock and Charles Thompson
C. George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
D. Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock
Answer: John Hancock and Charles Thompson
John Hancock and Charles Thompson were the only two people to actually sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4. Just about everyone else except a few people signed it on August 2.
What day did the founding fathers think Independence Day would be on?
A. July 2
B. July 4
C. August 2
D. June 13
Answer: July 2
Initially, the Founding Fathers thought that July 2 would be the official Independence Day of the United States. John Adams even wrote a letter to his wife stating that “the Second of July, 1776, will be the most memorable in the history of America.”
Out of the first five presidents, which did not hold any slaves?
A. George Washington
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. John Adams
D. James Madison
Answer: John Adams
Out of the first five Presidents of the United States, John Adams was the only man not to hold slaves. Many presidents after him continued to have slaves as well.
Which Founding Father wasn’t born in the 13 Colonies?
A. Alexander Hamilton
B. Benjamin Franklin
C. James Madison
D. George Mason
Answer: Alexander Hamilton
While essentially all of the other Founding Fathers were born in the 13 Colonies, Alexander Hamilton was not. He was actually born on the island of Nevis in the West Indies.
Who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel?
A. Aaron Burr
B. Roger Sherman
C. James Wilson
D. Andrew Jackson
Answer: Aaron Burr
On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr met in Weehawken, New Jersey to settle long-time political and personal issues. The duel resulted in Burr mortally wounding Hamilton and was later wanted for murder.
Which of these was included in the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence but left out in the final?
A. The outlawing of guns
B. A call to end slavery
C. Creating a 14th colony
D. Declaring George Washington as king
Answer: A call to end slavery
In Thomas Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration of Independence, he called for an end to slavery, yet left that part out of the final draft. He thought the document wouldn’t be approved by some delegates if it was included.
Who was George Washington’s Vice President?
A. Benjamin Franklin
B. John Adams
C. James Madison
D. Thomas Jefferson
Answer: John Adams
When John Adams was appointed as Vice President to George Washington, he took it as an insult. He said that it was “most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived.”
Which Founding Father proposed the turkey as the nation’s official bird?
A. Thomas Jefferson
B. Alexander Hamilton
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. Gouverneur Morris
Answer: Benjamin Franklin
Unsurprisingly, Benjamin Franklin was the one who proposed that the turkey be the national bird. He actually even spoke against bald eagles claiming that they were birds of “bad moral character.”
Who wasn’t involved in writing the Federalist Papers?
A. John Jay
B. James Madison
C. Alexander Hamilton
D. Thomas Jefferson
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
The Federalist Papers is a collection of 85 articles and essays that were written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. They were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym “Publius.”
Who returned a dog to the opposing side during the Revolutionary War?
A. Alexander Hamilton
B. George Washington
C. Samuel Adams
D. John Hancock
Answer: George Washington
During the Battle of Germantown, George Washington came upon a lost dog. He learned that the dog belonged to a British General named Howe and returned the dog back to its rightful owner.
Who was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence?
A. John Marshall
B. Paul Revere
C. Patrick Henry
D. Charles Carroll
Answer: Charles Carroll
Charles Carroll was a wealthy Marylander who was an early advocate for separating from England. He is often considered to be a Founding Father although he was not involved in framing the Constitution.
Who is thought to have designed the first US flag?
A. Francis Hopkins
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. Edmund Randolph
Answer: Francis Hopkins
Francis Hopkins was an author, composer, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He is also credited with designing the first official American flag, Continental paper money, and US coin.
Who founded the New York Post?
A. Alexander Hamilton
B. Benjamin Franklin
C. Paul Revere
D. George Mason
Answer: Alexander Hamilton
The Post was founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1801 with around $10,000 from investors and was originally called the New-York Evening Post. Today, the paper considers itself to be the oldest continuously published paper.
Which Founding Father was known to take “air baths?”
A. Benjamin Franklin
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. John Adams
D. John Jay
Answer: Benjamin Franklin
Almost every morning, Benjamin Franklin would wake up and sit in front of an open window to his room for a half-hour to an hour completely naked. He would read and write before returning to bed.
Who was the smallest Founding Father president?
A. James Madison
B. James Monroe
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. John Quincy Adams
Answer: James Monroe
James Monroe was by far the smallest president who was also a Founding Father. On top of that, he’s also the smallest United States President ever and was 5-feet 4-inches weighing 100 pounds.
Who wrote under the disguise of a woman?
A. Benjamin Franklin
B. John Adams
C. Patrick Henry
D. Thomas Paine
Answer: Benjamin Franklin
At one point, because he felt like it, Benjamin Franklin was regularly publishing editorials of Ms. Silence Doood. She was a character that he made up who was supposed to be a middle-aged widow.
Which two Founding Fathers died on the same day?
A. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
B. George Washington and John Jay
C. Thomas Jefferson and William Burke
D. Benjamin Franklin and James Madison
Answer: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
In a strange coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day. However, what made it even more strange was that they both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of American Independence.
Who was the first Founding Father to move into the White House?
A. John Adams
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. George Washington
D. James Madison
Answer: John Adams
John Adams was the first to move into the White House although construction delayed him from moving in. By the time he was finally settled, he only had five months left in office.
Which Founding Father Was the Minister to France?
A. Thomas Jefferson
B. John Adams
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. George Washington
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
In 1784, Thomas Jefferson was sent by the Congress of the Confederation to help with foreign relations. Since Jefferson was recently widowed, some believed it would help get his mind off of her passing.
Which Found Father was a master at smuggling?
A. John Hancock
B. Thomas Paine
C. George Mason
D. Paul Revere
Answer: John Hancock
Aside from his signature, John Hancock was also known as a master smuggler. In order to avoid British taxation, he would smuggle all kinds of goods which did not sit well with the British at all.
