Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader in Social Studies?

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Question 1

Is the Pacific Ocean the Largest Ocean on Earth?

Question 1

What Year Did The United States Declare Independence From Britain?

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Who Wrote The Star-Spangled Banner?

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Which U.S. President Issued The Emancipation Proclamation?

Question 1

What Are The First Ten Amendments To The Constitution Called?

Question 1

What Is The Highest Court In The United States?

Question 1

Which State Was The First To Join The Union?

Question 1

Who Was The Main Author Of The Declaration Of Independence?

Question 1

What River Divides The United States Into East And West?

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What Is The National Bird Of The United States?

Question 1

Who Is Known For His Midnight Ride To Warn Colonists?

Question 1

What Document Replaced The Articles Of Confederation?

Question 1

What Are The Three Branches Of The U.S. Government?

Question 1

Who Has The Power To Veto A Bill?

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Where Is The Liberty Bell Located?

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What Did The 19th Amendment Grant?

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Who Was The First U.S. President?

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Which State Is Known As The “Sunshine State”?

Question 1

Who Gave The Gettysburg Address?

Question 1

What Do We Celebrate On Memorial Day?

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What Is The Largest State By Land Area?

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What Was The Boston Tea Party A Protest Against?

Question 1

Which President Signed The Civil Rights Act Of 1964?

Question 1

What Is The Capital Of California?

Question 1

What Event Triggered The U.S. Entry Into World War II?

Question 1

Who Was The Chief Author Of The U.S. Constitution?

Question 1

What Is The Longest River In The United States?

Question 1

Which State Is The Grand Canyon Located In?

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What Is The Legislative Branch Of The U.S. Called?

Question 1

Who Was The First African American President?

Question 1

What Is The National Anthem Of The United States?

Question 1

Which State Is Famous For The Alamo?

Question 1

What Movement Worked To End Racial Segregation?

Question 1

Who Was The Main U.S. Ally During The American Revolution?

Question 1

What Do We Call The Head Of A State Government?

Question 1

What Is The Minimum Age To Vote In U.S. Federal Elections?

Question 1

Which Document Begins With “We The People”?

Question 1

What Type Of Economy Does The U.S. Have?

Question 1

What Territory Did The U.S. Purchase From France In 1803?

Question 1

What Do The Stripes On The U.S. Flag Represent?

Question 1

Who Elects The President Of The United States?

Question 1

What Is The Capital Of New York State?

Question 1

What Is The Largest National Park In The U.S.?

Question 1

What Did The Supreme Court Case Brown v. Board End?

Question 1

What Is Mount Rushmore Famous For?

Question 1

Who Was The First Woman On The Supreme Court?

Question 1

What Does The Legislative Branch Do?

Question 1

What Is The Westernmost U.S. State?

Question 1

Where Did The Pilgrims Land In 1620?

Question 1

What’s The Name Of The U.S. National Legislative Building?

Question 1

What Is The U.S. Motto?

Question 1

What Is The Oldest City In The United States?

Question 1

Who Was President During The Great Depression And World War II?

Question 1

What Do Americans Celebrate On Thanksgiving?

Question 1

What Is The U.S. Capitol Building’s Dome Made Of?

Question 1

What Is The Term Length For A U.S. Senator?

Question 1

Which Landmark Was A Gift From France To The U.S.?

Question 1

What State Is Nicknamed “The Land Of 10,000 Lakes”?

Question 1

Who Leads The Executive Branch Of The U.S. Government?

Question 1

What Is The Capital Of Texas?

Question 1

Who Was President When The U.S. Purchased Alaska?

Question 1

What Was The First Permanent English Settlement In America?

Question 1

How Many Justices Serve On The Supreme Court?

Question 1

What U.S. Document Was Signed In 1787?

Question 1

What Ocean Borders The East Coast Of The U.S.?

Question 1

What Did The Underground Railroad Help People Do?

Question 1

What State Is Home To Yellowstone National Park?

Question 1

What Year Did Women Gain The Right To Vote Nationwide?

Question 1

What Building Houses The President?

Question 1

What Is The Term Length For A U.S. Representative?

Question 1

What Major Event Happened On September 11, 2001?

Question 1

What Landmark Honors Abraham Lincoln?

Question 1

What State Was The First To Ratify The Constitution?

Question 1

What U.S. City Hosted The 1773 Tea Party Protest?

Question 1

What Is The Highest Mountain In The U.S.?

Question 1

Which Civil Rights Leader Delivered The “I Have A Dream” Speech?

Question 1

Where Is Arlington National Cemetery Located?

Question 1

What State Is Known As “The Empire State”?

Question 1

What Document Outlined America’s Break From Britain?

Question 1

Who Was The First Vice President Of The United States?

Question 1

What Landmark Stands On Liberty Island?

Question 1

What State Was The Last To Join The Union?

Question 1

Who Is Known As The “Father Of The Constitution”?

Question 1

What City Is The U.S. Capital?

Question 1

What’s The Smallest U.S. State By Land Area?

Question 1

Which State Is Known For Producing The Most Corn?

Question 1

What State Is The Birthplace Of Jazz Music?

Question 1

What Government Principle Divides Power Between National And State Levels?

Question 1

What Battle Is Considered The Turning Point Of The American Revolution?

Question 1

Who Signed The New Deal Into Law?

Question 1

What U.S. Landmark Was Completed In 1937 To Span San Francisco Bay?

1

No

2

Yes

The Pacific spans over 63 million square miles, dwarfing Atlantic waters and hosting vast island chains.

1

1492

2

1804

3

1776

4

1783

The United States declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, with the Declaration of Independence.

1

Paul Revere

2

Francis Scott Key

3

Betsy Ross

4

Thomas Paine

Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics during the War of 1812 after witnessing the Battle of Fort McHenry.

1

Ulysses S. Grant

2

James Buchanan

3

Andrew Johnson

4

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing enslaved people in Confederate-held territories.

1

Federalist Papers

2

Articles of Confederation

3

Bill of Rights

4

Declaration of Rights

The Bill of Rights protects individual freedoms like speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial.

1

District Court

2

Supreme Court

3

Federal Appeals Court

4

State Court

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority, interpreting laws and the Constitution.

1

Delaware

2

Pennsylvania

3

Virginia

4

Massachusetts

Delaware became the first U.S. state on December 7, 1787, ratifying the Constitution.

1

Benjamin Franklin

2

John Hancock

3

Alexander Hamilton

4

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson drafted most of the Declaration, outlining reasons for independence.

1

Mississippi River

2

Ohio River

3

Missouri River

4

Colorado River

The Mississippi River runs from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, dividing the country.

1

Bald Eagle

2

Peregrine Falcon

3

Golden Eagle

4

Turkey

The bald eagle symbolizes strength and freedom and became the national bird in 1782.

1

John Adams

2

Paul Revere

3

Samuel Adams

4

George Washington

Paul Revere rode at night to warn of British troops before the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

1

U.S. Constitution

2

Bill of Rights

3

Declaration of Independence

4

Federalist Papers

The U.S. Constitution established a stronger federal government to replace the weak Articles of Confederation.

1

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

2

President, Senate, House

3

Federal, State, Local

4

Military, Congress, Court

The three branches provide checks and balances to share power and prevent tyranny.

1

Governor

2

President

3

Senate

4

Supreme Court

The president can veto legislation, sending it back to Congress for revision or override.

1

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2

Boston, Massachusetts

3

Washington, D.C.

4

New York City, New York

The Liberty Bell, symbolizing freedom, is housed in Philadelphia near Independence Hall.

1

Prohibition of alcohol

2

End of slavery

3

Women’s right to vote

4

Lowering voting age

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women the legal right to vote.

1

George Washington

2

John Adams

3

Thomas Jefferson

4

James Madison

George Washington became the first president in 1789 after leading the Continental Army.

1

California

2

Arizona

3

Texas

4

Florida

Florida is nicknamed the “Sunshine State” due to its warm, sunny climate year-round.

1

James Monroe

2

Theodore Roosevelt

3

Abraham Lincoln

4

Andrew Jackson

Abraham Lincoln delivered this famous speech during the Civil War at the Gettysburg battlefield.

1

Labor rights

2

Declaration of Independence

3

Harvest season

4

Fallen military service members

Memorial Day honors soldiers who died serving the United States in wars.

1

Alaska

2

California

3

Texas

4

Montana

Alaska is the biggest U.S. state, covering over 663,000 square miles of land.

1

British taxes

2

Land shortages

3

Religious oppression

4

Slavery

The Boston Tea Party protested British taxation, particularly the Tea Act, in 1773.

1

John F. Kennedy

2

Lyndon B. Johnson

3

Harry S. Truman

4

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, outlawing segregation and discrimination.

1

San Francisco

2

Sacramento

3

San Diego

4

Los Angeles

Sacramento became California’s capital due to its central location during the Gold Rush.

1

Battle of Midway

2

Sinking of the Lusitania

3

D-Day invasion

4

Attack on Pearl Harbor

The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 led to America joining the war.

1

Benjamin Franklin

2

James Madison

3

Alexander Hamilton

4

John Jay

James Madison played a central role in drafting and promoting the Constitution.

1

Missouri River

2

Yukon River

3

Mississippi River

4

Colorado River

The Missouri River is the longest, stretching over 2,300 miles before joining the Mississippi River.

1

Nevada

2

Utah

3

Arizona

4

New Mexico

The Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River, is one of Arizona’s most famous landmarks.

1

Parliament

2

Cabinet

3

Senate

4

Congress

Congress consists of the Senate and House of Representatives, making federal laws.

1

Jesse Jackson

2

Barack Obama

3

Colin Powell

4

Martin Luther King Jr.

Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and served two terms as the first Black president.

1

America the Beautiful

2

God Bless America

3

The Star-Spangled Banner

4

My Country, ’Tis of Thee

The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key and became the official anthem in 1931.

1

Oklahoma

2

Colorado

3

Texas

4

New Mexico

The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, was a key site in the Texas Revolution.

1

Abolitionist Movement

2

Civil Rights Movement

3

Temperance Movement

4

Women’s Suffrage Movement

The Civil Rights Movement fought for equal rights for African Americans in the 1950s–1960s.

1

Spain

2

Netherlands

3

France

4

Germany

France provided crucial military and financial support to help defeat Britain.

1

Representative

2

Mayor

3

Governor

4

Senator

A governor is the elected leader of a state, similar to how the president leads the country.

1

18

2

21

3

16

4

25

The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in 1971.

1

Declaration of Independence

2

Bill of Rights

3

Emancipation Proclamation

4

U.S. Constitution

The Constitution starts with “We the People,” emphasizing government by and for the citizens.

1

Communist

2

Barter

3

Feudal

4

Capitalist

The U.S. has a capitalist or market-based economy with private ownership and competition.

1

Alaska

2

Florida

3

Louisiana Territory

4

Texas

The Louisiana Purchase doubled the nation’s size and expanded westward.

1

50 states

2

Presidents

3

Major wars

4

13 original colonies

The flag’s 13 stripes honor the original colonies that united against Britain.

1

Supreme Court

2

Senate

3

House of Representatives

4

Electoral College

The Electoral College officially elects the president, based on state-by-state votes.

1

Albany

2

Syracuse

3

New York City

4

Buffalo

Albany has been New York’s capital since 1797, despite New York City’s fame.

1

Wrangell-St. Elias

2

Yosemite

3

Grand Canyon

4

Yellowstone

Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska is the biggest U.S. national park, covering over 13 million acres.

1

Voting taxes

2

Women’s suffrage

3

Alcohol prohibition

4

School segregation

Brown v. Board of Education ended racial segregation in public schools in 1954.

1

Gold mines

2

National forest

3

Presidential carvings

4

Native American tribes

Mount Rushmore features carved faces of four U.S. presidents in South Dakota.

1

Elena Kagan

2

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

3

Sandra Day O’Connor

4

Sonia Sotomayor

Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice in 1981.

1

Makes laws

2

Votes for president

3

Interprets laws

4

Enforces laws

The legislative branch drafts, debates, and passes national laws.

1

Alaska

2

California

3

Hawaii

4

Washington

Alaska’s Aleutian Islands stretch into the Western Hemisphere, making it the westernmost state.

1

Roanoke, North Carolina

2

Plymouth, Massachusetts

3

New Amsterdam, New York

4

Jamestown, Virginia

The Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts.

1

Pentagon

2

White House

3

Capitol

4

Supreme Court

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., houses Congress and is where federal laws are made.

1

Land of the Free

2

E Pluribus Unum

3

United We Stand

4

In God We Trust

“In God We Trust” became the official national motto in 1956.

1

Plymouth, Massachusetts

2

Jamestown, Virginia

3

St. Augustine, Florida

4

New Orleans, Louisiana

Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied U.S. settlement.

1

Franklin D. Roosevelt

2

Woodrow Wilson

3

Harry S. Truman

4

Herbert Hoover

Franklin D. Roosevelt led the U.S. through both the Great Depression and most of World War II.

1

The discovery of America

2

A harvest feast shared by Pilgrims and Native Americans

3

The signing of the Constitution

4

The end of slavery

Thanksgiving commemorates the 1621 feast between Pilgrims and Wampanoag people in Massachusetts.

1

Granite

2

Brick

3

Cast iron

4

Marble

The Capitol’s iconic white dome is actually made of cast iron, not stone.

1

Four years

2

Six years

3

Two years

4

Eight years

U.S. senators serve six-year terms, with staggered elections to ensure continuity.

1

Mount Vernon

2

Lincoln Memorial

3

Statue of Liberty

4

Washington Monument

The Statue of Liberty was gifted by France in 1886 to celebrate U.S. independence.

1

Idaho

2

Michigan

3

Minnesota

4

Wisconsin

Minnesota’s official nickname refers to its thousands of natural and man-made lakes.

1

Speaker of the House

2

Vice President

3

Chief Justice

4

President

The president heads the executive branch, enforcing laws and leading the country.

1

Dallas

2

San Antonio

3

Austin

4

Houston

Austin became Texas’s capital due to its central location and political history.

1

James Buchanan

2

Andrew Johnson

3

Ulysses S. Grant

4

Abraham Lincoln

Andrew Johnson approved the Alaska Purchase from Russia in 1867, often called “Seward’s Folly.”

1

Plymouth, Massachusetts

2

Salem, Massachusetts

3

Roanoke, North Carolina

4

Jamestown, Virginia

Jamestown, founded in 1607, became the first enduring English settlement in the colonies.

1

Eleven

2

Seven

3

Thirteen

4

Nine

The Supreme Court has nine justices, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

1

Declaration of Independence

2

Articles of Confederation

3

The Constitution

4

Bill of Rights

The U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787 to replace the Articles of Confederation.

1

Pacific Ocean

2

Gulf of Mexico

3

Atlantic Ocean

4

Arctic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean stretches along the eastern seaboard of the United States.

1

Find jobs

2

Escape slavery

3

Vote

4

Move west

The Underground Railroad was a secret network to help enslaved people escape to freedom.

1

Colorado

2

Idaho

3

Wyoming

4

Montana

Most of Yellowstone National Park’s area lies within Wyoming, although it spans multiple states.

1

1920

2

1945

3

1865

4

1918

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, secured nationwide voting rights for women.

1

Supreme Court

2

The White House

3

Capitol

4

Pentagon

The president lives and works at the White House in Washington, D.C.

1

Six years

2

Two years

3

Four years

4

Eight years

Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, facing reelection frequently.

1

Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center

2

Economic collapse

3

Assassination of a president

4

Moon landing

On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks struck the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

1

Jefferson Memorial

2

Lincoln Memorial

3

Washington Monument

4

Mount Rushmore

The Lincoln Memorial features a large seated statue of President Lincoln in Washington, D.C.

1

Pennsylvania

2

Virginia

3

New Jersey

4

Delaware

Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on December 7, 1787.

1

Boston

2

New York City

3

Philadelphia

4

Charleston

The Boston Tea Party protested British taxation by dumping tea into the harbor.

1

Mount Rainier

2

Denali

3

Mount Whitney

4

Mount Elbert

Denali, in Alaska, is the tallest mountain in North America.

1

Martin Luther King Jr.

2

Frederick Douglass

3

Malcolm X

4

Rosa Parks

Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the famous speech at the March on Washington in 1963.

1

Pennsylvania

2

Virginia

3

Maryland

4

New York

Arlington National Cemetery honors military service members and lies across the Potomac from Washington, D.C.

1

Illinois

2

New York

3

Virginia

4

California

New York’s nickname reflects its wealth, influence, and historical significance.

1

Federalist Papers

2

Declaration of Independence

3

Constitution

4

Emancipation Proclamation

The Declaration of Independence announced the colonies’ intent to separate from Britain.

1

Aaron Burr

2

John Adams

3

James Madison

4

Thomas Jefferson

John Adams served as vice president under George Washington before becoming president.

1

Brooklyn Bridge

2

One World Trade Center

3

Ellis Island Museum

4

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants and symbolizes freedom on Liberty Island.

1

New Mexico

2

Hawaii

3

Alaska

4

Arizona

Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, after Alaska joined earlier that year.

1

Benjamin Franklin

2

James Madison

3

John Jay

4

George Washington

James Madison played a key role in drafting and promoting the Constitution.

1

New York City

2

Baltimore

3

Philadelphia

4

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. became the capital in 1800, designed as a neutral federal district.

1

New Jersey

2

Delaware

3

Connecticut

4

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state, covering just over 1,000 square miles.

1

Kansas

2

Iowa

3

Illinois

4

Nebraska

Iowa consistently leads the nation in corn production due to its rich farmland.

1

Alabama

2

Mississippi

3

Tennessee

4

Louisiana

Jazz was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, blending African, Caribbean, and European musical traditions.

1

Judicial review

2

Federalism

3

Checks and balances

4

Separation of powers

Federalism splits authority between national and state governments.

1

Battle of Saratoga

2

Battle of Yorktown

3

Battle of Bunker Hill

4

Battle of Lexington

The American victory at Saratoga convinced France to join the war against Britain.

1

Franklin D. Roosevelt

2

Dwight D. Eisenhower

3

Harry S. Truman

4

Herbert Hoover

Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the New Deal to combat the Great Depression.

1

Space Needle

2

Brooklyn Bridge

3

Golden Gate Bridge

4

Hoover Dam

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic engineering marvel connecting San Francisco to Marin County.

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Think you can ace fifth-grade social studies? This quiz will test your knowledge of geography, history, government, and culture. See if you’re still sharp on the basics — or if a fifth grader might outsmart you!

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