U.S. STATES Quiz

Each star on the United States Flag represents a state.  The stars are placed on the flag in the order of statehood.  The last star (in the lower/right corner) of our present 50-star flag is Hawaii's star.  In the following quiz we will have some questions about the original 12 States and statehood.  Select the answer you think is correct.

The EARLY States

The first star on the flag is the star of the first State to join the union of United States.   Statehood for the original 13 colonies was based on when each state adopted the U.S. Constitution.  The FIRST STATE was the State of:

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

DELAWARE

On July 4, 1776, twelve of the thirteen colonies that would become the original United States voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence.  Which colony, which later became one of the first 13 states, did not approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4th?

MARYLAND

NEW YORK

SOUTH CAROLINA

FOUR of our first FIVE presidents came from the same state.  They held the highest office in the land for 27 of the first 31 years of the new United States (1789 to 1825).   From what state did this "Presidential Dynasty" come?

NEW YORK

MASSACHUSETS

VIRGINIA

Though this early state approved the Declaration of Independence, it not only did not attend the Covention to draft the United States Constitution, but  initially refused to sign it.   It was the last of the original 13 states to finally adopt the Constitution and claims the 13th star on the flag.  Was it:

SOUTH CAROLINA

GEORGIA

RHODE ISLAND

Called the "Sage of the Constitutional Convention", Benjamin Franklin at age 81 was the oldest delegate to the convention.  For what state was Benjamin Franklin a delegate?

VIRGINIA

PENNSYLVANIA

MASSACHUSETTS

Which of the two states shown at right seceded (declared independence) from the United States during the Civil War?

  NORTH CAROLINA

  BOTH STATES

The only president ever elected from this early leader in the American Revolution can be counted twice.  It's as if the historical record gives this state TWO PRESIDENTS in one.  The feat is unmatched by any other state.  It is the State of:

NEW JERSEY

GEORGIA

MASSACHUSETTS

9

This state is the home of the first university in the United States, established in 1626 with a faculty of one.   The university itself received its name the first fall when a local minister died and left the college a bequest of 400 books from his library and a modest amount of money.   America's first university is located in:

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

VIRGINIA

Battles from every war in our history involving armed warfare on United States home territory have been fought in this State.  It was during one such battle here, in the war of 1812, that Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner".  One of the smaller states, it never-the-less gave up an area 10 miles square for the establishment of our Nation's Capitol.  It is the state of:

VIRGINIA

DELAWARE

MARYLAND

Two issues split the Constitutional Convention, the issue of slavery and the issue of representation.  The issue of representation almost destroyed the convention.  Smaller states wanted equal representation in the legislature, larger states argued that their greater populations deserved greater representation.   This state, known as the "Constitution State", saved the day.

MASSACHUSETTS

CONNECTICUT

VIRGINIA

MARYLAND

The first Continental Congress which began meeting on September 5,1774 and set the stage for the 2nd Congress that ultimately declared independence, was organized after  letters were sent to all 13 Colonies (and to Canada) encouraging them to send delegates.   Only one colony refused to attend.  Which Colony was it?

DELAWARE

SOUTH CAROLINA

GEORGIA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONGRATULATIONS

You have successfully answered 12 questions about our first 13 States.  Would you like to finish with an EXTRA-CREDIT question?  Try this:

There was almost a 14th state at the Constitutional Convention.  Which state, not among the original 13 Colonies, was it?