20 Free USA General Knowledge Quiz Questions for Students – Fun American Facts with Answers

Explanation: July 4, 1776 is the day the Declaration of Independence was officially approved. That’s why the Fourth of July is our biggest national holiday – full of fireworks, parades, picnics, and family celebrations across the country.

Explanation: The American Bison (also called buffalo) was named the national mammal in 2016. It represents the wild open spaces of the American West and the strength of nature. (The Bald Eagle is our national bird, not mammal.)

Explanation: Washington, D.C. is the real capital – it was built specially to be the center of government and is not part of any state. A lot of kids think New York is the capital because it’s so well-known, but New York is the biggest city and financial center, not the political capital.

Explanation: The White House was completed in 1800. George Washington chose its location and helped with the plans, but he never lived there. Our second President, John Adams, was the first one to actually move in and live in the White House.

Explanation: The Liberty Bell is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, inside Independence National Historical Park. It has a famous crack, but it remains one of the most important symbols of American freedom and independence.

Explanation: In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. A small committee including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams helped make changes, but Jefferson is recognized as the main author.

Explanation: George Washington is known as the “Father of His Country.” He led the American army to win independence from Britain and then became our very first President, serving from 1789 to 1797.

Explanation: The Grand Canyon is mostly in Arizona and was formed by the Colorado River over millions of years. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world – incredibly deep (over a mile in places) and beautiful.

Explanation: Hawaii officially became the 50th state on August 21, 1959. (Alaska had joined as the 49th state just a few months earlier, in January 1959.)

Explanation: Alaska is the biggest state by far – almost twice as large as Texas in land area. Texas is the largest among the connected “lower 48” states, but when we count everything, Alaska is number one.

Explanation: The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States, measuring about 2,341 miles. Many people think it’s the Mississippi because the two rivers connect and the Mississippi is more famous, but the Missouri is actually longer.

Explanation: When the United States declared independence in 1776, there were exactly 13 British colonies – Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and the others. These 13 became the first states of the new country. The number 50 is the total number of states we have today, but back at the beginning it was only 13.

Explanation: On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. He said the famous words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was an amazing moment in American and world history.

Explanation: The United States has 50 states right now. It began with 13, and the last two states – Alaska and Hawaii – joined in 1959. Some people mistakenly say 52 when they include places like Puerto Rico or Washington, D.C., but those are not states.

Explanation: This nickname comes straight from our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”: “…O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” It reminds everyone that America stands for freedom and liberty.

Explanation: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote all across the country after decades of fighting by brave women leaders.

Explanation: The Bald Eagle became the national bird in 1782. It stands for strength, courage, and long life – important American values. The word “bald” comes from an old meaning of “white,” because of the bright white feathers on its head. Other eagles exist, but only the Bald Eagle is the official national symbol.

Explanation: The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. France gave it to America in 1886 as a gift of friendship. For many years it was the first sight immigrants saw when coming to the United States – a true symbol of freedom.

Explanation: In November 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave a very short but powerful speech at the Gettysburg battlefield. One of the most famous lines is: “…that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Explanation: Mount Rushmore is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It shows the carved faces of four great presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It’s one of America’s most famous and visited monuments.