PATRIOTISM QUIZ

Since we are currently enjoying a long Independence Day weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to publish a patriotism quiz based on Independence Day and the “Star Spangled Banner.” Good luck. No peeking.

1. Contrary to long-held popular belief, most historians are now of the opinion the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, 1776, but rather on:

a. July 2, 1776
b. July 5, 1776
c. August 2, 1776
d. September 1, 1776

2. Three US Presidents have died on July 4. Which of the following DID NOT die on July 4?

a. Franklyn Pierce
d. John Adams
c. James Monroe
d. Thomas Jefferson

3. Who was the only US President born on July 4?

a. Harry Truman
b. James Madison
c. Grover Cleveland
d. Calvin Coolidge

4. When did Congress designate Independence Day as a holiday for Federal employees?

a. 1800
b. 1850
c. 1870
d. 1946

5. The inaugural Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was held in:

a. 1916
b. 1920
c. 1955
d. 1980

6. The rules for flying the flag at half mast were promulgated by Presidential proclamation by which President?

a. Thomas Jefferson
b. Theodore Roosevelt
c. Franklyn Roosevelt
d. Dwight Eisenhower

7. The movie “Independence Day” was released in:

a. 1980
b. 1996
c. 2001
d. 2011

8. The star of “Independence Day” was:

a. Denzel Washington
b. Tom Cruise
c. Will Smith
d. Matt Damon

9. The “Star Spangled Banner” was written during what war?

a. Revolutionary War
b. War of 1812
c. Mexican War
d. Spanish-American War

10. The SSB was written by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of:

a. Fort McHenry
b. Fort Washington
c. Washington DC
d. Baltimore

11. The SSB was designated the National Anthem in:

a. 1815
b. 1865
c. 1916
d. 1931

12. The tradition of performing the national Anthem before every baseball game began during WWII. When was it first performed before a baseball game?

a. 1868
b. 1897
c. 1916
d. 1940

13. How many stanzas does the SSB have?

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

14. The musical “1776” premiered on Broadway in:

a. 1946
b. 1960
c. 1969
d. 2000

15. Before the SSB was designated as the “National Anthem,” which of the following was used as a “de facto” anthem?

a. “Hail to the Chief”
b. “God Bless America”
c. “Hail, Columbia”
d. “Stars and Stripes Forever”

ANSWERS: (1) c; (2) a; (3) d; (4) c; (5) a; (6) d; (7) b; (8) c; (9) b; (10) a; (11) d; (12) b; (13) d; (14) c; (15) c

Please let me know how you did. If you got more than 10 correct, you are a true patriot. If you got less than 5 correct, you may not be smarter than a 5th grader. I suspect most people will fall in between.