Defining Moments
In this 1803 major land deal, the United States purchased territory from France that doubled the nation’s size and opened the way for westward expansion. What was the name of this purchase?
The Louisiana Purchase
The U.S. bought over 800,000 square miles for about $15 million — roughly four cents per acre!
This song by Nat King Cole became a timeless romantic standard and was Billboard’s #1 song of 1950. What’s the name of this smooth and sentimental tune?
Mona Lisa
“Mona Lisa” was originally written for the film Captain Carey, U.S.A. and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Nat King Cole reportedly recorded it in just one take!
This mathematical constant, approximately equal to 3.14159, represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. What is it called?
Pi (π)
Pi has been calculated to over 31 trillion digits as of 2023!
This swashbuckling 1938 adventure film stars Errol Flynn as the heroic outlaw of Sherwood Forest who robs from the rich to give to the poor. What’s the movie?
The Adventures of Robin Hood
This was one of the first widely seen, full-color live-action blockbusters shot entirely in Technicolor — the vivid green of Robin’s outfit became legendary in early color cinema.
This cuddly character made its debut in 1939 and quickly became a favorite toy among American children, inspired by a U.S. president’s nickname. What is it?
Teddy Bear
The toy was named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, who famously refused to shoot a captured bear on a hunting trip — sparking cartoons, pins, and ultimately the plush toy craze.
1869 year marked the completion of a massive project that connected the eastern and western United States by rail for the first time. What was the name of this historic achievement?
The Transcontinental Railroad
The final “Golden Spike” was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, uniting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads — a telegraph instantly announced the moment nationwide.
Rock ’n’ roll officially took over with this Bill Haley & His Comets classic, featured in Blackboard Jungle and widely credited with launching the rock era. What’s the name of the song?
Rock Around the Clock
Though recorded in 1954, the song didn’t explode until it appeared in Blackboard Jungle (1955). Afterward, it became the first rock song to top the Billboard charts and sold over 25 million copies worldwide.
In base-10, this is the only number that is both the sum and the product of three consecutive positive numbers (1 × 2 × 3 = 1 + 2 + 3). What is it?
6
It’s also the first perfect number, meaning its divisors (1, 2, 3) add up exactly to itself.
In this 1946 Christmas classic, George Bailey gets a second chance at life after an angel shows him what the world would be like if he had never been born. What’s the name of the film?
It’s a Wonderful Life
The snow in the movie wasn’t real — it was a mix of soap flakes and water pumped through a wind machine! Before that, Hollywood usually used painted cornflakes for snow.
This energetic dance craze took the nation by storm in the early 1950s, often performed to rock ’n’ roll music like Bill Haley’s hits. What dance craze was it?
The Jitterbug
Originating from swing dance, the Jitterbug became a favorite in both dance halls and films, helping to fuel the rise of rock ’n’ roll culture.
What amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect, banning the sale, production, and transport of alcohol?
18th Amendment
Prohibition led to the rise of bootleggers, speakeasies, and organized crime. It lasted 13 years before being repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933 — the only time an amendment has ever been completely overturned.
This song by Elvis Presley marked his explosive rise to fame, topping the charts and earning him the nickname “The King.” What was the #1 song of 1956?
Heartbreak Hotel
The song was inspired by a real-life newspaper article about a man who jumped from a hotel window. It was Elvis’s first single with RCA Records and sold over 1 million copies in its first year.
The Pythagorean Theorem is used to calculate the relationship between the sides of which type of triangle?
Right Triangle
It’s been known for over 4,000 years — Babylonian clay tablets show evidence of it long before Pythagoras.
In this 1953 romantic drama set in Rome, Audrey Hepburn plays a runaway princess who explores the city with an American journalist. What’s the movie?
Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday was Audrey Hepburn’s first major film role — she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for it, instantly becoming a Hollywood icon.
This miniature toy car craze allowed kids to collect, trade, and race small die-cast vehicles — a trend that exploded after a certain company introduced 1:64 scale cars. What are these collectibles called?
Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars
Tiny toy cars became so popular that kids organized their own “racetracks” using ramps and gutters at home. Some early models are now collector’s items worth thousands of dollars.
In this 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision, segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional. What was this historic case?
Brown v. Board of Education
The case was actually a combination of five lawsuits — all challenging racial segregation in schools across different states.
This track by The Browns dominated 1959’s charts and is remembered for its haunting harmonies and Western storytelling. What’s the song?
The Three Bells
“The Three Bells” was originally a French song called “Les Trois Cloches.” The Browns’ English version tells the life story of a man named Jimmy Brown — purely by coincidence, it shared the same name as the group’s lead singer, Jim Ed Brown!
In probability, the chance of rolling a “6” on a standard six-sided die is expressed as a fraction. What is this probability?
1/6
Dice are one of the oldest gaming tools, dating back over 5,000 years. Ancient dice weren’t always cubic!
This 1961 musical reimagines Romeo and Juliet on the streets of New York City, pitting the Jets against the Sharks. What’s the movie?
West Side Story
won 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture — one of the most ever for a musical.
This colorful frozen dessert became a nationwide craze in the 1950s, often served at diners and soda fountains with whimsical flavors like banana, cherry, and bubblegum. What is this treat?
Ice Cream Sundaes
Soda fountains helped popularize the ice cream sundae, and by the late ’50s, specialized sundae glasses and toppings became collectible items in American homes.
In a triumph of science and exploration, American astronauts successfully landed on the Moon for the first time. What was the name of this mission?
Apollo 11
The mission carried a plaque that reads, “We came in peace for all mankind.” The astronauts left behind footprints that may last for millions of years due to the Moon’s lack of atmosphere.
This catchy tune by Domenico Modugno became an international sensation, mixing Italian lyrics with soaring melodies. It was the Billboard #1 song of 1958 and won the first-ever Grammy for Record of the Year. What’s the song?
Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)
“Volare” means “to fly” in Italian. Modugno performed it at the Eurovision Song Contest and waved his arms like he was flying — sparking an iconic gesture that audiences around the world copied. The song became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
This branch of mathematics, often called the “language of change,” deals with rates of change and slopes of curves. What is it called?
Calculus
Calculus was independently developed by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the late 17th century and is essential for physics, engineering, and computer science today.
In this 1967 groundbreaking film, Dustin Hoffman plays a recent college graduate who has an affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson. What’s the movie?
The Graduate
The film made Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence” a chart-topping hit years after it was first released.
This musical phenomenon from the UK sparked a frenzy in the U.S., inspiring screaming fans, sold-out concerts, and a wave of copycat bands. What is this craze called?
The British Invasion
Led by The Beatles, the British Invasion changed American pop culture and music forever, influencing fashion, hairstyles, and even teen slang.