From 1776 to the Moon landing — how much do you remember?
American history is full of stories people think they know: who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence, what the Louisiana Purchase really cost, which president served the shortest term. This free U.S. history quiz pulls from every major era and gives you a short explanation with each answer, so it doubles as a painless refresher course.
The eras you'll be tested on
- Colonial & Revolution — Jamestown, the Boston Tea Party, Lexington and Concord.
- Founding & Constitution — the framers, the Bill of Rights, the early republic.
- Civil War era — Lincoln, Gettysburg, Reconstruction.
- Westward expansion — the Oregon Trail, the Gold Rush, the transcontinental railroad.
- The 20th century — both World Wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, the Space Race.
- Civil Rights & modern America — the movement, the milestones, the recent past.
A quiz that teaches while it tests
Every question includes a one- or two-sentence explanation with historical context. Educational research calls this the testing effect: actively retrieving a fact and immediately getting feedback cements it far better than rereading a textbook chapter ever could.
When you're done, round out your American knowledge with the U.S. geography quiz or the general trivia quiz.