HISTORY QUIZ 5 BLUNDERS AND FAMOUS FIRSTS
Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 1:48 pm1. Which of these former British colonies was the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote?
A) New Zealand B) Canada C) Australia D) India
A) NEW ZEALAND
2. Which was the first European nation to abolish the trade in slaves?
DENMARK
3. The first state to break away from Yugoslavia?
SLOVENIA
4. The first state to break away from the USSR?
LITHUANIA
5. Signalling a coming of age for this country, which Asian nation was the first to defeat a European power in modern times?
JAPAN
6. A twist on firsts: What was the first US state to join after the original 13?
VERMONT
7. Which was the first South American country to declare independence?
VENEZUELA
8. Which country was the first in the world to introduce paper money?
CHINA
9. Which country was the first to recognise the state of Israel?
U.S.A.
10. What was the first African country to receive independence in sub-saharan africa in the post-war era?
GHANA
11. President Nixon made a critical mistake by deciding to tape conversations in the Oval Office. Who disclosed the taping system to the public (and to the Watergate Investigators)?
ALEXANDER BUTTERFIELED
12. "Pickett's Charge" was a legendary event during the American Civil War. In what battle did it occur?
GETTYSBURG
13. The Charge of the Light Brigade was a famous incident during what war?
CRIMEAN WAR
14. Amerlia Earhart apparently blundered by planning to land her plane on a small island in the Pacific. Which island was it?
HOWLAND
15. The Missile Crisis of 1962 may have been caused in part by the Soviet Premier's belief that he could "have his way" with President Kennedy. Who was the Premier?
KHRUSCHEV
16. George Armstrong Custer is best known for his disastrous defeat at Little Big Horn. His problems may have been caused (at least in part) when he disobeyed the orders of what general?
TERRY
17. Robert Estell - a name not known to many - was a prosecuting attorney in Chicago. He was planning to run for governor, but his career was derailed when he had his picture taken in a "friendly" pose with a criminal who had recently been apprehended. Who was the criminal?
A) Al Capone B) John Dillinger C) Bugsy Siegel D) Clyde Barrow
B) JOHN DILLENGER
18. Many people are familiar with the mistaken newspaper headline which announced that Dewey had defeated Truman for the U.S. presidency. More recently, however, a newspaper committed a similar blunder by by announcing that presidential candidate John Kerry had selected Richard Gephardt as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2004 presidential election. What newspaper made this blunder?
NEWYORK POST
19. John Wilkes Booth is infamous for his assassination of Abraham Lincoln. His own death followed shortly thereafter. What "blunder" did Booth make?
A) He broke his leg by being careless (or too flashy) in his leap to the stage after the shooting of Lincoln
B) He believed that he would be received as a hero
C) He believed that he would rescue the Confederate cause
D) All of these
D) ALL OF THESE
20. The "Bay of Pigs" was an embarrassment for the U.S. and for President Kennedy. This incident involved American activities in what foreign nation?
CUBA
21. Who was the first person to break the sound barrier?
CHARLES YEAGER
22. Who were the first two people to successfully fly a hot air ballon around the world in a non-stop, non-refueled flight?
A) Betrand Piccard and Brian Jones B) Betrand Piccard and Steve Fossett
C) Steve Fossett and Brian Jones D) Dick Rutan and Dave Melton
A) BETRAND PICCARD AND BRIAN JONES
23. What city was the first in the world to use traffic lights?
LONDON ENGLAND
24. What National Football League (NFL) team was the first to complete an entire season undefeated?
MIAMI DOLPHINS 1972
25. Who was the first person to sucessfully fly non-stop, solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
CHARLES LINDBERGH
26. Who was the first American to walk on the moon?
NEIL ARMSTRONG
27. In 1908, who was the first person to claim to have made it to the North Pole?
FREDERICK ALBERT COOK
28. Who was the first person to win collegiate football's Heisman Memorial Trophy award in 1935?
JAY BERWANGER
29. Who was the first person to break the four minute mile?
ROGER BANNISTER
30. What was the name of the first horse to win the Triple Crown?
SIR BARTON 1919
A) New Zealand B) Canada C) Australia D) India
A) NEW ZEALAND
2. Which was the first European nation to abolish the trade in slaves?
DENMARK
3. The first state to break away from Yugoslavia?
SLOVENIA
4. The first state to break away from the USSR?
LITHUANIA
5. Signalling a coming of age for this country, which Asian nation was the first to defeat a European power in modern times?
JAPAN
6. A twist on firsts: What was the first US state to join after the original 13?
VERMONT
7. Which was the first South American country to declare independence?
VENEZUELA
8. Which country was the first in the world to introduce paper money?
CHINA
9. Which country was the first to recognise the state of Israel?
U.S.A.
10. What was the first African country to receive independence in sub-saharan africa in the post-war era?
GHANA
11. President Nixon made a critical mistake by deciding to tape conversations in the Oval Office. Who disclosed the taping system to the public (and to the Watergate Investigators)?
ALEXANDER BUTTERFIELED
12. "Pickett's Charge" was a legendary event during the American Civil War. In what battle did it occur?
GETTYSBURG
13. The Charge of the Light Brigade was a famous incident during what war?
CRIMEAN WAR
14. Amerlia Earhart apparently blundered by planning to land her plane on a small island in the Pacific. Which island was it?
HOWLAND
15. The Missile Crisis of 1962 may have been caused in part by the Soviet Premier's belief that he could "have his way" with President Kennedy. Who was the Premier?
KHRUSCHEV
16. George Armstrong Custer is best known for his disastrous defeat at Little Big Horn. His problems may have been caused (at least in part) when he disobeyed the orders of what general?
TERRY
17. Robert Estell - a name not known to many - was a prosecuting attorney in Chicago. He was planning to run for governor, but his career was derailed when he had his picture taken in a "friendly" pose with a criminal who had recently been apprehended. Who was the criminal?
A) Al Capone B) John Dillinger C) Bugsy Siegel D) Clyde Barrow
B) JOHN DILLENGER
18. Many people are familiar with the mistaken newspaper headline which announced that Dewey had defeated Truman for the U.S. presidency. More recently, however, a newspaper committed a similar blunder by by announcing that presidential candidate John Kerry had selected Richard Gephardt as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2004 presidential election. What newspaper made this blunder?
NEWYORK POST
19. John Wilkes Booth is infamous for his assassination of Abraham Lincoln. His own death followed shortly thereafter. What "blunder" did Booth make?
A) He broke his leg by being careless (or too flashy) in his leap to the stage after the shooting of Lincoln
B) He believed that he would be received as a hero
C) He believed that he would rescue the Confederate cause
D) All of these
D) ALL OF THESE
20. The "Bay of Pigs" was an embarrassment for the U.S. and for President Kennedy. This incident involved American activities in what foreign nation?
CUBA
21. Who was the first person to break the sound barrier?
CHARLES YEAGER
22. Who were the first two people to successfully fly a hot air ballon around the world in a non-stop, non-refueled flight?
A) Betrand Piccard and Brian Jones B) Betrand Piccard and Steve Fossett
C) Steve Fossett and Brian Jones D) Dick Rutan and Dave Melton
A) BETRAND PICCARD AND BRIAN JONES
23. What city was the first in the world to use traffic lights?
LONDON ENGLAND
24. What National Football League (NFL) team was the first to complete an entire season undefeated?
MIAMI DOLPHINS 1972
25. Who was the first person to sucessfully fly non-stop, solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
CHARLES LINDBERGH
26. Who was the first American to walk on the moon?
NEIL ARMSTRONG
27. In 1908, who was the first person to claim to have made it to the North Pole?
FREDERICK ALBERT COOK
28. Who was the first person to win collegiate football's Heisman Memorial Trophy award in 1935?
JAY BERWANGER
29. Who was the first person to break the four minute mile?
ROGER BANNISTER
30. What was the name of the first horse to win the Triple Crown?
SIR BARTON 1919
Greece