Early U.S. History
This ship carried the Pilgrims to America in 1620.
The Mayflower
The merchant vessel carried 102 passengers and a crew of about 30 across the Atlantic, anchoring near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1620.
The first ten amendments of the US Constitution.
The Bill Of Rights
They guarantee fundamental civil rights and civil liberties, establish rules for due process, and limit the power of the federal government.
Who is the youngest president elected to office?
John F. Kennedy
He was 43 years, 236 days old on Jan 20, 1961.
What year did the US enter WWII?
1941
Following the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941. Days later, on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, prompting the U.S. to reciprocate and fully enter the global conflict.
Who was the first First Lady?
Martha Washington is recognized as the first First Lady of the United States, serving as the presidential hostess alongside George Washington from 1789 to 1797.
While the official title of "First Lady" was not regularly used or popularized until more than forty years after her death—during the era of Frances Folsom Cleveland in the 1890s—Martha Washington set the precedent for the ceremonial and social expectations of the role. People at the time respectfully referred to her as "Lady Washington"
What is the largest U.S state by area?
Alaska is the largest U.S. state by total area, encompassing roughly 665,384 square miles. It is more than twice the size of Texas, the second-largest state, and makes up about one-fifth of the entire landmass of the United States. You could fit Texas, California, and Montana into Alaska all at once, with room to spare.
Colonists staged this protest in 1773 against the Tea Act.
The Boston Tea Party
Colonists staged the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773, to protest the Tea Act. Members of the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Native Americans, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor, and dumped 342 chests of East India Company tea into the water.
This historic document begins with the words “We the People.”
The U.S.Constitution
The Preamble continues: "...in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Who is the old president elected to office?
Who is Donald Trump?
He was 78 years, 220 days on Jan 20, 2025.
What year did we walk the moon?
1969
Humanity first landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touched down on the lunar surface, with Armstrong becoming the first person to walk on the moon a few hours later.
Who was the first black supreme court justice?
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court justice in U.S. history. Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, he was confirmed by the Senate on August 30, 1967, and served as an Associate Justice from October 2, 1967, until his retirement on October 1, 1991.
What mountain range runs along much of the Eastern U.S.?
The Appalachian Mountains run along much of the Eastern U.S. This massive, ancient mountain system stretches roughly 1,500 to 2,000 miles from central Alabama up into Maine and on into Canada.
These were the number of original colonies that formed the United States.
Thirteen
The 13 original British colonies on the East Coast of North America that declared independence in 1776 and became the first states of the United States:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
This amendment abolished slavery in 1865.
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially ended slavery in the United States. It was ratified on December 6, 1865.
However, it contains a major exception: forced labor remains legal as a punishment for a crime for which a person has been duly convicted.
Who was the youngest person to ever become president?
Theodore Roosevelt
William McKinley was assassinated on Sep 14, 1901. At which time Roosevelt, who took office, was 42 years, 322 days old.
What year did the stock market crash?
1929
The most famous stock market crash in history occurred in 1929, culminating in "Black Tuesday" on October 29. This crash marked the end of the 1920s boom and helped trigger the Great Depression.
While 1929 is the most well-known, there have been several other significant stock market crashes and bear markets throughout history.
What was the first college founded in America?
Harvard University is the first and oldest college in America. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it was established in 1636 by a vote of the Massachusetts General Court and was originally named "New College".
This state contains Mount Rushmore
South Dakota
Mount Rushmore is located in the beautiful Black Hills region of South Dakota.
The colossal 60-foot granite carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are the state's most iconic landmark.
In what city was the Declaration of Independence signed?
Philadelphia
The 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress signed the historic document at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall). Most of the delegates officially signed the engrossed parchment on August 2, 1776
These are the three branches of U.S.Government.
Legislative,Executive, and Judicial
Legislative Branch makes the laws, Executive Branch enforces and administers the laws, Judicial Branch interprets the laws and determines their constitutionality.
Which president is considered to be "The father of the Bill of Rights"
James Madison
As a leading member of the House of Representatives during the First Congress, Madison meticulously drafted, introduced, and advocated for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
What year did the gold rush start?
1848
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when James W. Marshall discovered flakes of gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California.
While the discovery happened in early 1848, the massive wave of migration famously known as the "Forty-Niners" occurred the following year after President James K. Polk officially confirmed the discovery in December 1848.
This city served as the first capital of the United States.
New York City was the first federal capital of the United States under the newly ratified Constitution, serving as the seat of government from 1788 to 1790.
The government operated out of Federal Hall on Wall Street, where the First Congress met, George Washington was inaugurated as the first president, and the Bill of Rights was drafted.
Which Great lake is the largest by surface area?
Lake Superior is the largest Great Lake by surface area, spanning 31,700 square miles. It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. The surface areas of all the Great Lakes are as follows:
Lake Superior: 31,700 sq mi
Lake Huron: 23,000 sq mi
Lake Michigan: 22,404 sq mi
Lake Erie: 9,910 sq mi
Lake Ontario: 7,340 sq mi
He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson
While a “Committee of Five”—which also included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman—was tasked with drafting the document, Jefferson did the actual writing. His original draft was later reviewed, revised, and ultimately adopted by the Second Continental Congress.
U.S. Government uses this to maintain equal power amongst its branches.
Checks and Balances
This constitutional design allows each branch to limit or "check" the actions of the others. It prevents any single branch from gaining too much control.
Which president was in office during the 1929 stock market crash,otherwise known as "Black Thursday?
Herbert Hoover
He took office on March 4, 1929, just months before the market crash, which began with massive sell-offs on "Black Thursday" (October 24, 1929) and peaked on "Black Tuesday" (October 29, 1929).
His moderate responses and economic philosophies ultimately shaped the early governmental approach to the crash.
What year was the Louisiana Purchase?
1803
The treaty was signed on April 30, 1803, in Paris, and the United States officially took control of the territory in ceremonies held in New Orleans on December 20, 1803. Through this purchase, the United States acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million, nearly doubling the size of the young country.
What was the first national park in the United States?
Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is recognized as the first national park in the United States and the world. It was established on March 1, 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law.
What is the only U.S.state that borders just one other state?
Maine is the only U.S. state that borders exactly one other state. It is located in the northeastern corner of the country and shares its entire domestic land border with New Hampshire to the west.
What was the name of the rebellion in Massachusetts that exposed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?
Shay's Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shays, an indebted Revolutionary War veteran, the rebellion consisted of rural farmers and former soldiers who were facing heavy taxation and the threat of losing their farms through foreclosure. They organized an armed uprising, forcing local courts to close and attempting to seize weapons from the federal arsenal in Springfield.
The only U.S. president to get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after serving as president.
John Quincy Adams
After losing his bid for re-election in 1828, the sixth president retired briefly before winning a House seat in 1830. He represented his Massachusetts district in Congress for 17 years until his death in 1848. During his post-presidential congressional tenure, he became a prominent and passionate opponent of slavery.
Who was the first president to die in office?
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841) was the ninth president of the United States from March to April 1841. He died 31 days into his term, making him the shortest serving president and the first president to die in office.
When did Congress pass the Federal Highway Act?
1956
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act) is a landmark piece of U.S. legislation signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 29, 1956.
It authorized the creation of a 41,000-mile national network of interstate highways, serving as the largest public works project in American history up to that time.
Who was the first U.S. president to be impeached?
Andrew Johnson
The primary charge against Johnson was that he had violated the Tenure of Office Act by replacing Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War, with Lorenzo Thomas ad interim. After the House formally adopted the articles of impeachment, they forwarded them to the United States Senate for adjudication. The trial in the Senate began on March 5, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding. On May 16, the Senate voted against convicting Johnson on one of the articles, with its 35–19 vote in favor of conviction falling one vote short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
What is the most easternmost state in the US?
Alaska
Geographically, Alaska is the easternmost state in the US because its Aleutian Islands cross the 180° meridian into the Eastern Hemisphere. However, if you are looking for the contiguous US, Maine is the farthest east, featuring the easternmost mainland point at West Quoddy Head.
Who designed the current US flag featuring 13 stripes and 50 stars?
Robert G. (Bob) Heft
The current 50-star American flag was designed by Robert G. (Bob) Heft, a 17-year-old high school student from Lancaster, Ohio. He created the 50-star layout in 1958 as a class history project, anticipating the admission of Alaska and Hawaii into the United States.
Heft’s teacher initially gave him a B- on the project, pointing out that Heft included too many stars since there were only 48 states at the time. The teacher jokingly told Heft he could change the grade if he got his design accepted in Washington, D.C..
Heft contacted his congressman and lobbied the U.S. government as Alaska and Hawaii were being considered for statehood. On July 4, 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially adopted Heft's design over 1,500 other submissions.
Following the official adoption of his flag, Heft’s teacher kept his promise and changed the grade to an A.