275 Best History Trivia Questions

Who doesn’t love a friendly challenge with friends and family? These history trivia questions is the perfect way to see how smart you really are. Have a friendly competition with your family and see who gets the most right! These questions are sure to get your brain working! Call your family members together to see who can answer the most questions history trivia questions correctly on the first try.

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When my kids were young, it seemed like they were sponges, soaking up every bit of information they could. They loved to show off how smart they were to extended family. You can imagine how excited they were once they learned about trivia games!

As the kids have gotten older, they love to find trivia games that will stump their siblings or, more importantly, their parents. What started as easy kid’s trivia quickly evolved into an ongoing competition with even harder questions like Chick Flick Trivia.

It’s not just the kids in my house that love trivia. My husband and I love playing trivia just as much! Sometimes, we even quiz each other after the kids go to bed at night.

Some of our favorite topics are sports trivia and teen trivia! The kids are really excited to break out our outdoor trivia printable card with summer quickly approaching!

I’ve noticed as my kids get older, they’ve grown less and less interested in spending time with family. When we pull out trivia questions, it seems like time has turned back a few years! They are more engaged with the family and invested in seeing who will reign supreme in that night’s challenge. Give trivia games a chance in your home if you are looking for ways to include older children and spend time with one another.

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Why I Love Trivia Games

In a house full of boys, you can imagine things get pretty competitive around here. That’s why I love trivia games! They take all of that competitive energy and harness it into learning facts and ideas that they didn’t know before.

Competition is healthy for kids to experience in a structured manner. They learn many skills like being a team player, a gracious winner, and accepting defeat with a positive attitude.

Love Trivia Questions? Grab this ultimate trivia bundle!

How to Play History Trivia

There are many different ways to play trivia! Get your history trivia questions ready by downloading the questions below, and you’re ready to get started!

First, decide how you want the teams to be formed. You can divide into teams such as boys versus girls, kids versus adults, or pairs. If you’re really adventurous, you can even try tackling the questions solo as well!
Once teams are formed, choose one person to read the questions. The other teams will try to answer first. The first team with the correct answer wins a point.
The game is over when all of the questions have been read or reaches a predetermined amount of points. Whichever team has the most points is the winner!

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Benefits of Trivia Games

Playing trivia games is a great way to get kids interested in learning. Here are some other benefits:

Get kids off of electronics and hanging out with the family.
Trivia games are great at stretching long-term memory recall skills.
Playing trivia gives players the opportunity to win and lose in a safe, loving environment.
Trivia games are an inexpensive family activity that can be played over and over again.
Kids get experience learning how to wait their turn and support other players.
Trivia games can be played by people of all ages!

Tips and Tricks for Using Trivia Questions

Trivia games can be played just about anywhere!

Ask your kids a few trivia questions while waiting in the school drop-off line.
Keep your teens at the dinner table for a few extra minutes by playing a quick round of trivia.
Keep a running scoreboard on the refrigerator. Who says the game has to end?
Come up with fun team names to encourage friendly competition.

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The Best History Trivia Questions

United States Trivia

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What year was the Declaration of Independence signed? 1776
Which country owned Alaska before it became a U.S. property? Russia
What number president was James Madison? Fourth
True or False: The Industrial Revolution brought the U.S. into a new age of agricultural practices. True
President Franklin D. Roosevelt sponsored which programs during the Great Depression to revitalize the economy and create jobs? The New Deal
Which Amendment gives women the right to vote? The 19th Amendment
Which presidents’ faces can be seen at Mount Rushmore? Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington
Which American was the first female millionaire? Madam C.J.Walker
Who was the president of the United States in 1988? George H.W. Bush
How many stripes are there on the American flag? Thirteen
How many stars are there on the U.S. flag? Fifty

Why are there 13 stripes on the American flag? To represent the original thirteen colonies.
Atlanta, Georgia, is the birthplace of which prominent historical figure? Martin Luther King, Jr.
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull led Native American warriors in which infamous 1876 battle? The Battle of Little Bighorn
Which battle was where Lieutenant Colonel George Custer took his last stand? The Battle of Little Bighorn
According to President FDR, which day “…will live in infamy?” December 7, 1941
What day did the Japanese Kamikaze attack Pearl Harbor? December 7, 1941
Who was the president when World War II began? Franklin D. Roosevelt
Where is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located? Washington, D.C.
Which war does the famous line, “the shot heard ‘round the world” come from? The American Revolution
John F. Kennedy was the president during which international crisis? The Cuban Missile Crisis

True or False: Thurgood Marshall was the first Black Senator. False
What important position did Thurgood Marshall hold? First Black Supreme Court Justice
When did child labor laws begin in the U.S.? 1938
The U.S. and Japan fought which battle in June 1942? The Battle of Midway
Which Civil War battle was fought July 1-3, 1863? The Battle of Gettysburg
Theodore Roosevelt was the first American to win which award? The Nobel Peace Prize
In 1980, The U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team defeated which country in the Winter semi-finals? The Soviet Union
What does NAFTA stand for? North American Free Trade Agreement
What was the first U.S. city to be founded by European explorers? St. Augustine, Florida
Who founded St. Augustine, Florida? Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles

When was St. Augustine, Florida founded? 1565
Who did Pocahontas marry? John Rolfe
When did the Pilgrims sail to America? 1620
What ship did the Pilgrims take to America? The Mayflower
Where did the Salem Witch Trials take place? Massachusetts
When were the Salem Witch Trials? 1692-1693
How many people were accused during the Salem Witch Trials? Over 200
How many people died in the Salem Witch Trials? 20 people were killed during the trials.
Who dumped tea into Boston Harbor? American Colonists
When was the Boston Tea Party? December 16, 1773

Why did the colonists dump tea into the harbor? They were protesting unfair British taxes.
What were the four Intolerable Acts? The Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act.
True or False: Washington, D.C., was the first U.S. capital. False; it was New York City.
Who created the original American Flag? Betsy Ross
What day did the Revolutionary War finally end? September 3, 1783
The Treaty of Paris was signed by which three Americans? John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay
Which was the first American state? Delaware
What cities did George Washington live in while he was the president? Philadelphia and New York City
Who was the first president to live in the current White House? John Adams
Who invented bifocals? Benjamin Franklin

Philadelphia was the primary location of which set of meetings to discuss the strengthening of the government in 1787? Constitutional Convention
What importance does Mrs. O’Leary’s cow have to Chicago’s history? It is highly rumored that she kicked over a lantern and started the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Which two explorers embarked on the first cross-country exploration to the Pacific Coast? Meriweather Lewis and William Clark
Who assisted Lewis and Clark in their cross-country expedition to the Pacific coast? Sacagawea
James Madison was the first president to do what? Declare war.
Which war did James Madison begin? The War of 1812
President Andrew Jackson signed which act to move Native Americans into new lands in exchange for their property? Indian Removal Act
How many Native Americans were affected by the Indian Removal Act? About 100,000
Which tribe walked the “Trail of Tears,” killing many of their members due to illness, disease, and harsh weather conditions? Cherokee
How many days did President William Henry Harrison serve in his term before dying? 31

Which president was in office for the shortest period of time? William Henry Harrison
Which president served the longest? Franklin D. Roosevelt
Which Civil War Battle is considered to be the bloodiest battle in U.S. history? The Battle of Antietam
When was the Battle of Antietam fought? September 17, 1862
How many people died in the Battle of Antietam? 22,717 casualties
True or False: The Emancipation Proclamation was issued twice. True; a preliminary proclamation was issued before the final draft was issued several months later.
Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation? President Abraham Lincoln
When was The Emancipation Proclamation issued? January 1, 1863
Whose face was featured on the first dollar bill? Salmon P. Chase
What year was the first dollar printed? 1862

During the Civil War, who was the president of the Confederate States of America? Jefferson Davis
Where was Abraham Lincoln assassinated? Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Who assassinated President Lincoln? John Wilkes Booth
Which president declared the Civil War a victory for the Union in 1865? President Andrew Johnson
How much did a hamburger cost in 1954? 18 cents
During which war was the battle at Fort Sumter fought? Civil War
Which indigenous population was the first to greet the pilgrims when they arrived in the Americas? The Nauset tribe
Who shot President James A. Garfield, later resulting in his death due to infection? Charles J. Guiteau
How many passengers set sail on the Mayflower? 102
Where was the Battle of Bunker Hill? Breed’s Hill, in Charlestown, Massachusetts

What was Ronald Reagan’s job in high school? Lifeguard
What year was Margaret Sanger arrested? 1917
What type of movement did Margaret Sanger begin? Family planning
Which infamous mobster earned the title “Robin Hood” by starting a soup kitchen? Al Capone
What was the date of the Challenger explosion? January 28, 1986
How many people died in the Challenger explosion? Seven
Sandra Day O’Connor made history by being elected to which position? First female senator
How many years did Sandra Day O’Connor serve as senator? 24 years
Which president nominated Sandra Day O’Connor to the Senate? President Ronald Reagan
What was the date of Black Thursday? October 24, 1929

What is Black Thursday? The day the stock market crashed, beginning the Great Depression.
How many years did the Great Depression last? Ten
What was the day that humans first landed on the moon? July 20, 1969
Who was the president when humans landed on the moon? John F. Kennedy
Who established the Girl Scouts of the USA? Juliette Gordon Low
Who was President George Washington’s Vice President? John Adams
What was the name of Charles Lindbergh’s monoplane? The Spirit of St. Louis
What year did Charles Lindbergh complete the first trans-atlantic flight? 1927
What was the date of the first bottle sold of Coca-Cola? May 8, 1886
What was the first European language to be spoken in the Americas? Spanish

When was Hoover Dam finished? 1936
What was Harriet Tubman’s code name in the Underground Railroad? Moses

World Trivia

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Which of the great wonders of the world was built during the 7th Century BC? The Great Wall of China
Spain sponsored which adventurer to travel and scout the New World? Christopher Columbus
Which empire was the largest of all time? The Mongol Empire
Which revolution began in 1789? The French Revolution
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand began which event? World War I
Who was Nicholas II? Russia’s final Tsar
True or False: There are two Celtic languages still spoken today. False; there are six.
Which country did Libya gain independence from in 1951? Italy
Where was Albert Einstein born? Ulm, Germany
Johannes Gutenberg invented which device? The printing press
What year was the Gutenberg Press invented? 1440

What was the first document printed in the Gutenberg press? A bible, known as The Gutenberg Bible.
What is the Christmas Truce? A ceasefire between battling parties in WWI from December 24-26, 1914, to allow all parties to observe their holiday traditions.
Which Queen of England was 27 when she was crowned? Queen Elizabeth II
Operation Barbarossa was the codename for which country’s invasion of the Soviet Union in WWII? Germany
November 20, 1910, was the start of which country’s revolution? Mexico
Genghis Khan ruled which ancient empire? The Mongol Empire
India gained independence in 1947 from which country? Britain
Which country was the first to have a person land on the moon? The United States
Who was the first man to step on the moon? Neil Armstrong
Which shuttle was the first to land on the moon? Apollo 11

1346 was the year in which what worldwide pandemic began? The Bubonic Plague
What year was Chernobyl destroyed? 1986
What was The League of Nations formed to do? Keep world peace
After which war was The League of Nations created? World War I
Which French beaches were famously stormed by Allied troops during World War II? Normandy
For how many centuries did the Han Dynasty rule China? Over four (more than 400 years!)
Which Scottish battle was fought in 1746? The Battle of Culloden
Which two countries fought in the Hundred Years’ War? France and Britain
When did Lief Erikson first land in North America? The 10th Century
Which country did Lief Erikson come from? Norway

What was the first patented invention? The rubber band.
In 1991, who was elected as Russia’s first democratic president? Boris Yeltsin
How many years did the 100-Year War actually last? 116 years
What year was the first worldwide postage stamp introduced? 1840
When was Sputnik 1 launched into space? October 4, 1957
Whose face was featured on the first postage stamp? Queen Victoria
Who was King Henry VIII’s first wife? Catherine of Aragon
What year did Christopher Columbus begin his voyage to the New World? 1492
What was the name of the Soviet satellite launched into space in 1957? Sputnik
Which country launched the first satellite into space? The Soviet Union

What event began the Space Race? Sputnik’s launch into space.
Who was the leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011? Kim Jong-i
What famous English playwright was born in 1564? William Shakespeare
In which country did the Reign of Terror originate? France
During which war did the Reign of Terror occur? The French Revolution
How many people were executed during the Reign of Terror? 16,594
Who wrote The Communist Manifesto? Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Who did Marie Antoinette marry to become the Queen of France? Louis XVI
When did Marie Antoinette become the Queen of France? May 10, 1774
What year was the Antarctic ozone hole discovered? 1985

Which country discovered the Antarctic ozone hole? Great Britain
Angela Merkel was which country’s first female Chancellor? Germany
Who was named Time’s “Person of the Year” in 2015? Angela Merkel
What year did the RMS Titanic sink? 1914
What year did the last living survivor of the Titanic die? 2009
When was Hirohito the emperor of Japan? 1926-1989
Who was Japan’s longest reigning monarch? Hirohito
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from which country? France
Who invented the elevator? Elisha Otis

Ancient History

Augustus was the first Emperor of which civilization? Roman (Rome)
What was the name of the volcano that erupted and destroyed Pompeii? Mount Vesuvius
What year did Mount Vesuvius erupt? 79 AD
Pompeii was famously preserved in time when which natural disaster occurred? Mount Vesuvius (a volcano) erupted and covered the city with ash.
Constantinople is the ancient name for which modern-day city? Istanbul, Turkey
What was the capital of the Byzantine Empire? Constantinople
What year did Constantinople fall? 1453
True or False: Mesopotamia is the world’s oldest known civilization. True
Where was the Peloponnesian War fought? Greece (Athens and Sparta)
Which pharaoh was buried in the Great Pyramid? Khufu
Yu the Great founded which Chinese Empire? The Xia Dynasty

The Code of Hammurabi contains how many rules? 282
The Ptolemaic Dynasty was famously led by this queen. Cleopatra
Which mythological god was the king of Olympus? Zeus
What infamous event happened during the Ides of March? Julius Caesar was assassinated.
Guatemala was the central location for which ancient civilization? The Mayan Empire
Socrates was known as the Father of …? Philosophy
Egypt was conquered in 332 BC by whom? Alexander the Great
What was The Silk Road? A trade route that connected China to Europe.
Approximately how long was The Silk Road used for trade? 1400 years
This young pharaoh was only 19 years old when he died. King Tutankhamun

Teotihuacan, Mexico is home to which ancient monument? The Pyramid of the Sun
What year was the Battle of Marathon fought? 490 BC
Which countries were fighting in the Battle of Marathon? Persia and Greece
Pharaoh Akhenaten was married to which queen? Queen Nefertiti
Vespasian ordered which ancient Roman building to be constructed? The Colosseum
Silk was invented by which ancient civilization? China
Which came first: The Byzantine Empire or the Roman Empire? The Roman Empire
Ancient Greece was introduced to the beginning concept of democracy in 507 BC. What was the Greek word for democracy? Demokratia
What year did Ancient Rome first reach a population of one million citizens? 5 BC
Which civilization invented Arabic numerals? Indian

What hard surface did Ancient Egyptians use as pillows? Wood or stone blocks
Herodotus of Halicarnassus is known as the “Father of What?” History
What were the three states of the Aztec Empire? Mexico-Tenochtitlan, Mexico-Texcoco, and México-Tlacopan
Who was the first pope of the Roman Catholic church? St. Peter
The Parthenon was dedicated to which Greek goddess? Athena
Who was the patron god of Athens? Athena
Which Hindu caste includes religious advisors? Brahmin
Samurai is the name of which country’s medieval military? Japan
Who were the five possible Roman emperors in the year 193 AD? Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimus Severus.
In Ancient Rome, how many days were there in a week? Eight

Where is Stonehenge located? Wiltshire, England
What country was the first one to use paper as currency? China
What was the shortest war in world history? The Anglo-Zanzibar War
How long did the Anglo-Zanzibar War last? About 45 minutes

Modern Trivia

Which cell phone was first released in 2007? iPhone
What was the term that people used for the turn of the century? Y2K
What did people fear would happen when the clocks hit midnight on New Years Eve 1999? Computers would shut down and become unusable.
The 2016 Summer Olympics was hosted by which country? Brazil
In what year did the U.S. rover Curiosity land on Mars? 2012
At what age did Malala Yousafzai win a Nobel Peace Prize? 17
What major event happened in Europe in 1989? The Berlin Wall fell.
What category of a hurricane was Hurricane Katrina? Category 5
What year did Hurricane Katrina destroy New Orleans and nearby locations? 2005
King Charles was formerly married to which Welsh princess? Princess Diana
What year did Princess Diana die? 1997

What is considered to be the first social media platform? Six Degrees
Which social media app was created in 2004? Facebook
Who invented Facebook? Mark Zuckerberg
Which country won the 1994 FIFA World Cup? Brazil
True or False: Pluto is a dwarf planet. True; Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet in 2006.
Which country wanted to leave the European Union in a move termed, “Brexit?” The United Kingdom
Brexit refers to what political move? The United Kingdom leaving the European Union
Simone Biles competed in which sport during the 2010s Olympic games? Gymnastics
In 1993, what public release changed the way the world functions forever? The public availability of the Internet
What is the term for the economic state of the United States from 2007-2009? The Great Recession

What year did Atlanta, Georgia host the Summer Olympics? 1996
Edward Snowden leaked classified information from which U.S. agency? National Security Agency (NSA)
What is a “whistleblower?” Someone who leaks classified information that is believed to be illegal or fraudulent.
What is the focus of the Paris Agreement? Climate change
When was the Paris Agreement signed? 2015
The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to which event? The September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center
1990 was the year that which South African president was released from prison? Nelson Mandela
Kamala Harris was the first woman to be elected to which position? Vice President of the U.S.
What year was the first website registered for use? 1985
What was the name of the first website? Symbolics.com

What was President Clinton’s dog’s name when he was in office? Buddy
Which video game console was launched in 1991?Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Who won the first World Cup in 1930? Uruguay
How many Olympic medals did Michael Phelps win? 28
What year was the first MLB game televised? 1939
What was the first sport to be played by humans in space? Golf
When did the European Union begin using the Euro as standard currency? 2002
Who was featured on gold coins worth one U.S. dollar minted between 2000-2008? Sacagawea
Which former president ran with the slogan, “Make America Great Again?” Donald Trump
What year did the COVID-19 pandemic begin? 2019

What substance contaminated Flint, Michigan’s water supply in 2014? Lead
How many bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon in 2013? Two
Who defeated Garry Kasparov in a 1997 chess championship? Deep Blue, IBM’s supercomputer
Released in the 1980s, what is considered to be the world’s best selling toy? Rubik’s Cube
Where was a UFO sighted in 1947? Roswell, New Mexico
What was Times Square called before it was renamed in 1904? Long Acre Square
Who wrote the beloved Winnie the Pooh series? A. A. Milne
Which famous musician was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958? Elvis Presley
What was the first company to be worth more than $1 trillion? Apple
What is the name of the United State’s President’s plane? Air Force One

Which music based television channel was launched in 1981? MTV
What year was YouTube released? 2005
Where is the largest mall in the United States located? Minnesota; The Mall of America
True or False: Barbara Walters was the first female co-anchor of a new show. True
Who wrote Frankenstein? Mary Shelley
Which African American woman was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?Aretha Franklin
Who was the first computer programmer? Ada Lovelace
Who is next in line to inherit the British crown after King Charles? Prince William
Who was the first female pilot to attempt a transatlantic flight? melia Earhart
Which search engine was launched in 1998? Google

Who did Barack Obama race against in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election? John McCain
Britain and Ireland signed which agreement in 1997? The Good Friday Agreement
Dolly, the sheep, is best known for what? Being the first successfully cloned mammal.
What year was Dolly the sheep cloned? 1996

Do you have even more history trivia questions that will stump the competition? Be sure to share it in the comments so we can try and solve them!

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