| US Cities |
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| Who founded the city of Chicago? |
Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable in 1772
He was Haiti and founded a the settlement Eschijagou on the north bank of the chicago River. This was officially recognized in 1968.
|
| What started the Chicago Fire on 10/8/1871? |
Not the cow.
A reporter, Michael Ahern, admitted he created the legend to make a better story. The fire lasted 27 hours, killing 250 people and destroyed 17,450 buildings. |
| Is Chicago the windiest city? |
No - Great Falls, Montana with an average wind speed of 13.1/mph |
| Who was Pittsburgh named after? |
William Pitt
Interesting that he never set foot in Pennsylvania. After the French and Indian War and the capture of the French fort, Fort Duquesne, a new British fort, Fort Pitt, was built in 1758. Pitt committed money, troops and mapped out the strategy to capture the French fort. |
| Who founded Detroit? |
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac in 1701
He was a French explorer and administrator. |
| US Geography |
|
| What is the largest city in area? |
Juneau, Alaska - 3,108 square miles |
| Where is the geographic center of the US |
Smith County, Kansas - Based on 48 states
Butte County, South Dakota - Based on 50 states |
| What is the highest elevation? |
Mount McKinley, Alaska - 20,320 feet |
| What is the lowest elevation? |
Death Valley, CA - 282 feet below sea level |
| How long is the Grand Canyon? |
217 miles. Width varies from 4 to 18 miles. |
| American History |
|
| Who designed the American Flag? |
Francis Hopkinson
He was a naval flag designer and was never reimbursed for his services. There is no record of commissioning Betsy Ross to sew the flag. |
| Number of casualties in the American Revolution? |
Estimates are that 4,500 died in battle, over 6,000 wounded and over 3,000 died of illness. |
| How much was Benedict Arnold paid to be a traitor? |
6,315 pounds and 13,400 acres in Canada
He demanded 20,000. He lived the rest of his life in England. |
| When was the first US census taken? |
1790
Results: population: 3,929,214 - 3,172,006 were white and 757,208 were black. Males and females were evenly divided. Virginia had the most population: 747,610. |
| Where did "In God We Trust" derive from? |
Prompted by Secretary of the Treasury Salmon Chase.
It has appeared on most coins since 1864. The thought was to put the country's faith where its money was. It is not required to appear by law. |
| When was the US Navy established? |
October 13, 1775
The Continental Navy was established by the Second Continental Congress and disbanded in 1784. The first US Navy was established April 30, 1798 |
| How long did the Pony Express last? |
From April 1860 - October 1861 - 18 months
It connected St Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA - 1,800 miles. |
| How many people heard Lincoln's Gettysburg Address? |
About 5,000 on November 19, 1863 |
| When did the US government create the right to tax citizens? |
1913 - The 16th Amendment to the Constitution |
| Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance? |
Francis Bellamy - September 8, 1892
He was editor of the children's magazine The Youth's Companion. It was written to commemorate Columbus Day. |
| Who wrote the US Supreme Court decision on school segregation? |
Chief Justice Earl Warren - May 17, 1954 |
| How many died in the Vietnam War? |
58,135 Americans were killed and 153,303 wounded. Estimated that 1.3 million vietnamese lost their lives |
| When was the FBI formed? |
1908 as the Bureau of Investigation by Teddy Roosevelt |
| What was the first monopoly? |
American Fur Company
Owned by John Jacob Astor for which he was wealthiest person in the US at that time. He founded the Astor Library in New York. |
| What is the first department store? |
Marble Dry Goods Palace in 1848
Opened on Broadway in New York by Alexander Turney Stewart. In 1876 the store's annual earnings were $70 million. |
| What was the first skyscraper? |
Home Insurance Company Building - 1885
10 story building in Chicago designed by William Le Baron Jenney. It was demolished in 1931.
|
| What was the first movie theater? |
Vitascope Hall on June 26, 1896
At the corner of Canal Street and Exchange Palace in New Orleans. |
| What was the first drive-in movie? |
Camden, NJ on June 6, 1933
Opened by Richard Hollingshead with a screen size 400 x 30 feet and had room for 400 cars. |
| What was the first radio station broadcast |
KDKA in East Pittsburgh, PA on November 2, 1920 |
| What was the first television news-broadcast? |
WGY in Albany, NY |
| Phrases |
|
| What does Auld Lang Syne mean? |
Scottish for Old Long Ago |
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| Holidays |
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| How is the date for Easter determined? |
Always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21. |
| Who originated Mother's Day |
Julia Ward Howe - 1872
Suffrage leader and author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it as a national holiday on 1915. |
