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share thisWe hold this truth to be self-evident: July 4 is the most important date not only for Americans who love their independence but for much of the free world. But how much do Americans really know about that sacred square on the calendar? Herewith, a quiz (answers follow):
1. The Continental Congress passed the resolution for independence from Great Britain on: a) July 2, 1776; b) July 4, 1776; c) Aug. 1, 1776; d) Oct. 1, 1776.
2. The population of the 13 colonies on July 4, 1776 was: a) 15 million; b) 20 million; c) 2.5 million; d) 1.25 million.
3. The estimated population of the United States on July 4, 2009, is: a) 505 million; b) 308 million; c) 425 million; d) 718 million.
4. Which two signers of the Declaration of Independence died July 4, 1826, 50 years to the day after they voted to approve it? a) George Washington and Benjamin Franklin; b) John Adams and Thomas Jefferson; c) James Monroe and James Madison; d) Sam and John Adams.
5. Who introduced the resolution for independence on July 2, 1776? a) Francis Lightfoot Lee; b) Richard Henry Lee; c) Charles Carroll of Carrollton; d) Oliver Wolcott.
6. Which signers became presidents? a) George Washington; b) Thomas Jefferson; c) Benjamin Franklin; d) John Adams; e) James Madison.
7: Congress declared July 4 a paid federal holiday in: a) 1870; b) 1800; c) 1938; d) 1941.
8: Who wrote "the second day of July, 1776 ... ought to be solemnized ...with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations"? a) Benedict Arnold; b) Lafayette; c) Alexander Hamilton; d) John Adams.
9. How many signers of the Declaration are memorialized on Mount Rushmore?
a) 0; b) 1; c) 2; d) 3.
10. Who was the only signer to do so on July 4, 1776? a) Thomas Jefferson; b) Benjamin Franklin, c) John Hancock; d) Samuel Chase.
11. True or false: Continental Congress ordered the ringing of the Liberty Bell on July 4.
12. In "National Treasure," Nicholas Cage tries to decipher a treasure map drawn with invisible ink on the back of the Declaration. What is written on the back of the actual document? a) the logo of Benjamin Franklin's print shop; b) the printer's signature; c) a notation that it is the original document; d) nothing.
13. Which delegation abstained from voting on adoption of the Declaration? a) South Carolina; b) Pennsylvania; c) Delaware; d) New York.
14. How many signers of the Declaration were captured by the British during the American Revolution? a) 2; b) 4; c) 5; d) 6.
15. Of those captured, how many did the British execute for treason? a) 0; b) 1; c) 4; d) 5.
16. Of those captured, how many recanted their oath of allegiance to the United States? a) 0; b) 1; c) 2; d) 5.
17. He said, upon signing the Declaration of Independence, "We must hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." a) John Hancock; b) Caesar Rodney; c) Benjamin Franklin; d) Philip Livingston.
Extra credit: Which popular Northeast Pennsylvania band of the 1960s and 1970s was named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence? a) Ralph; b) Franklinicity; c) Button Gwinnett; d) Lightfoot.
ANSWERS: 1, a; 2, c; 3, b; 4, b; 5, b; 6, b and d; 7, c; 8, d; 9, b; 10, c; 11, False - the bell was rung on July 8 to summon residents to a formal reading of the Declaration; 12, c; 13, d; 14, c; 15, a; 16, b, Richard Stockton of New Jersey, who later reaffirmed it; 17, c; Extra credit, c.
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