Historical Events Trivia Questions
Total Questions: 637
In a benefit concert on March 25, 1961, Elvis Presley performed at Honolulu's Bloch Arena to raise money for the memorial of which ship?
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arizona
In which year did the Communist coup in Czechoslovakia take place, the Berlin blockade begin, and the State of Israel get established?
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1948
What significant waterway did Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalize on July 26, 1956, leading to a Cold War crisis?
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suez canal
In which year did the Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl, Elie Wiesel receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Democrats gain control of the U.S. Senate?
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1986
Which African country was declared independent by Charles De Gaulle on July 3, 1962?
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algeria
On February 12, 1912, the 'Last Emperor' of which country, a 6-year-old boy, announced his abdication?
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china
In which city were ice cream cones first served at the 1904 world's fair?
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st. louis
Who was fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968, leading to its closure in 1989?
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robert f. kennedy
In which month in 1917 did U.S. newspapers first publish reports of the Bolshevik Revolution?
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november
In which year was the Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812?
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1814
In 1956, which country's President, Juscelino Kubitschek, announced plans to move the capital approximately 600 miles inland?
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brazil
On August 14, 1900, over 2,000 U.S. troops helped capture Peking, putting an end to which uprising?
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boxer rebellion
What type of building burned in Los Angeles in 1986 and in Alexandria in 47 B.C.?
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library
After Dewey's victory over the Spanish in which islands did the local population subsequently rebel against U.S. rule?
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philippines
In 1990, which company had 14,000 shareholders each holding only one share due to a nude image on the certificate?
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playboy
In what year was Walter Mondale nominated for U.S. President?
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1984
What expensive yellow spice was used to sprinkle the streets when Nero entered Rome?
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saffron
Who is the individual that, on October 31, 1517, may have caused the Wittenberg Palace Church to consider putting up a 'Post No Theses' sign with his actions?
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martin luther
In which North African country did the deposed Shah of Iran die in exile on July 27, 1980?
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egypt
Which country did Greece gain its independence from, celebrated every March 25?
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turkey
In November 1689, Joseph Wadsworth hid the charter of which colony from the British by placing it in an oak tree?
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connecticut
To which city did Mali's ruler Mansa Musa make a 4,000-mile pilgrimage in 1324, reportedly taking 12,000 slaves?
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mecca
What submarine was launched by Mamie Eisenhower on January 21, 1954, the same day President Eisenhower turned in a budget with a projected $2.9 billion deficit?
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nautilus
Which city hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and was the location of the 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand?
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sarajevo
What month did Columbus leave Palos, Spain on his first voyage and arrive in the New World two months later?
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august
Which country was declared an Islamic Republic on April 1, 1979?
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iran
What is the event that occurred in March 1770, where a group of rowdies began by hurling insults and snowballs at British soldiers?
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boston massacre
Which French emperor did the Knights Hospitallers surrender Malta to in 1798 after holding it for over 250 years?
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napoleon
Which Chilean dictator had to be out of office by March of 1990 as a result of a 1988 plebiscite?
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augusto pinochet
In 1989, what event's full results were missing from the World Almanac due to the San Francisco earthquake?
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world series
In which New World country did P. Bonaparte's husband die in 1802 while trying to put down a revolt?
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haiti
Which tiny star, associated with P.T. Barnum, had a White House reception hosted by the Lincolns to celebrate his marriage?
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general tom thumb
Which country had 2 grapes found to contain nonlethal traces of cyanide in March 1989?
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chile
On March 17, 1776, during the Revolutionary War, the British evacuated which city?
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boston
Which person had Jane Wyman attend his 1971 wedding, while Ronald and Nancy Reagan couldn't because they attended Tricia Nixon's wedding on the same day?
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michael reagan
What is the name of the agricultural settlement in Guyana that was the site of the People's Temple mass suicide?
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jonestown
What Spanish institution did Charles V introduce to the Netherlands in 1522 to persecute Protestants?
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inquisition
In 1855, which territory did John Brown and five of his sons go to in order to help the antislavery battle and acquire some land?
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kansas
In what year was the first Thanksgiving celebrated, occurring one year after the pilgrims landed?
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1621
On which island did a significant 1945 World War II battle take place?
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iwo jima
Which group of veterans was evicted from Washington, D.C. on President Hoover's orders in the 1930s?
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bonus army
What was the name of the fleet, thought to be invincible and commanded by the Duke of Medina, that ultimately failed?
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spanish armada
Which group destroyed Milan in 539, less than 100 years after the Huns only sacked it?
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goths
Which other Turkish strait, alongside the Bosporus, was addressed in the Straits Convention of 1841?
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dardanelles
Which order of knights was suppressed on Friday, October 13, 1307, possibly giving rise to the superstition around Friday the 13th?
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knights templar
Which month saw the start of the 1830 French revolution, perhaps bringing back fond memories?
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july
Which rear admiral was indicted on March 16, 1988, for his role in the Iran/Contra affair?
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john poindexter
What act led to Susan B. Anthony refusing to pay a $100 fine in Rochester, N.Y. in 1872?
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voting
Which emperor's accession in 1926 marked the beginning of Japan's Showa period?
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hirohito
On the day before which action was ordered on Cuba did the U.S. retroactively declare the start of the Spanish-American War to be April 21?
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blockade
Which Arab country announced the merger of its Northern and Southern parts on May 22, 1990 in Aden?
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yemen
In which country did King Michael open a new parliament on December 1, 1946?
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romania
What capital city was bombed by U.S. planes for the first time on May 19, 1967?
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hanoi
Which country's King Gustav III was fatally shot at a masked ball in 1792, leading to his death two weeks later?
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sweden
Who was in custody on November 5, 1605, after preparing to blow up the British Parliament?
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guy fawkes
In which Italian city did the construction of the world-famous Palazzo Vecchio start in 1299?
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florence
Which country did Michigan governor George Romney claim he was brainwashed by officials during a trip in September 1967?
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vietnam
In February 1995, the U.N. voted to send 7,000 peacekeepers to which southern African nation?
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angola
Who referred to himself as 'a scared little bunny rabbit' while evading capture after being shot down in Bosnia in 1995?
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scott o'grady
Which country did Pedro I grant independence to after defying orders to return to Portugal?
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brazil