Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? View Actual Test Questions About the American Revolution!

How long has it been since you were in elementary school? Do you remember much about American History? We thought it would be fun to track down actual questions presented to fifth graders, that have to do with the Revolution. But the real question—the one that truly matters—is how many can you answer correctly?

Two fifth-grade teachers—one from Kentucky and another from Ohio—provided the following questions. We selected five from each educator and they’re in no particular order. Once you think you have all the answers, scroll to the bottom to see how you did. Good luck!

Where was the first battle between colonists and British soldiers?
A. At Bunker Hill
B. At Breed’s Hill
C. At Lexington and Concord
D. At Fort Ticonderoga

Which French Aristocrat helped the American colonists defeat the British at the Battle of Yorktown?
A. John Burgoyne
B. Thaddeus Kosciuszko
C. Fredrich von Steuben
D. Marquis de Lafayette

Who was the commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War?
A. Samuel Adams
B. George Washington
C. Marquis de Lafayette
D. Lord Cornwallis

Lord Cornwallis, the commander of the British troops in the South, was defeated in which of the following battles?
A. Yorktown
B. Atlanta
C. Charleston
D. Bunker Hill

What did Patrick Henry mean when he said “Give me liberty or give me death”?
A. I’d rather be dead than alive
B. I’d rather be free than to die in prison
C. If I can’t have my freedom, I’d rather be dead
D. If we can’t find a way to please England, I’d rather be dead

What were the Sons of Liberty protesting when they dumped the tea into Boston Harbor?
A. Boston Tea Party
B. Redcoats being in Boston
C. Taxes on tea
D. Selling British goods

The “shot heard around the world” was fired during which of these battles?
A. Battle of Lexington and Concord
B. Battle of Bunker Hill
C. Battle of Boston and Concord
D. Battle of Yorktown

When was the Declaration of Independence approved?
A. April 18, 1775
B. June 4, 1776
C. July 4, 1776
D. July 4, 1876

What was the Pennsylvania town where the Continental Army spent a very hard winter?
A. Bunker Hill
B. Lexington
C. Trenton
D. Valley Forge

Can you fill in these words from the Declaration of Independence?

ANSWERS: 1-C 2-D 3-B 4-A 5-C 6-C 7-A 8-C 9-D 10-men, equal, unalienable rights, life, liberty, pursuit, happiness

Contributor: Vanna Owens

Vanna teaches 5th grade in Norman, OK at Little Axe Elementary. She’s been teaching American History for six years. I asked her why she enjoys focusing on this time period with her students. “It is very fun to teach because my students have had very little history lessons before mine. They come in fascinated to hear about our country’s history and where we come from. They ask questions and study the individuals we talk about in great detail. They want to know more and more about people like John Smith, George Washington, Abigail Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Teaching about the American Revolution is my favorite because I get to see my students develop a sense of pride and patriotism for their country based on the history I share with them. My passion for the topic seems to excite them as well,” she responded.

Contributor: Dee Besl

Dee teaches fifth graders at A.M. Yealey Elementary in Florence, KY. This is her 27th year of teaching, focusing primarily on American History, which she loves! She shared with me, “It’s fun to see when students are able to connect the people and events they’ve heard of to specific times and places.” During their studies of colonial times, Dee’s students have created board games, dressed in 18th-century attire, and even produced and sold items based on colonial trades. Dee has had the opportunity to visit the Revolutionary City many times as a guest, curriculum writer, and member of the CW Master Teacher Program.