Most Americans Fail This Civil War Quiz

By: Lauren Fokas | Last updated: Apr 08, 2024

Over the past 248 years, the United States has had its fair share of conflict, though many would argue that few have been as heartbreaking as the Civil War. Brothers brutally killing brothers, an entire generation of Americans was lost.

Today, Americans know how important that war was for the nation as it made it the powerful, unified, and free country it is today. But you may be surprised how little you actually know about the Civil War!

Who was the president of the United States during the Civil War?

  • A) George Washington
  • B) John Adams
  • C) Thomas Jefferson
  • D) Abraham Lincoln
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Official painting of Thomas Jefferson/Official portrait of John Adams/Official White House photograph of Abraham Lincoln/Official portrait of George Washington

Source: Wikipedia/Wikipedia/Wikipedia/Wikipedia

Answer:

Abraham Lincoln

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Official photograph of President Abraham Lincoln

Source: Wikipedia

What is the approximate death toll of the Civil War?

  • A) 250,000
  • B) 750,000
  • C) 1 Million
  • D) 1.5 Million
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Photograph of soldiers waiting for instruction during the US Civil War

Source: Shutterstock

Answer:

750,000

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Civil War cemetery with hundreds of white tombstones

Source: New Georgia Encyclopedia

When was the Civil War?

  • A) 1914-1915
  • B) 1795-1804
  • C) 1861-1865
  • D) 1888-1900
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Illustration of the US Civil War

Source: iStock

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Answer:

1861-1865

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Pamphlet announcing the start of the Civil War/Civil War News announcing the end of the Civil War

Source: Concord Free Public Library/@WestWingReport/X

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Which of these statements is true regarding the Battle of Antietam?

  • A) It was the final battle of the war
  • B) It was the longest battle of the war
  • C) It was a decisive victory for the South
  • D) It produced the highest single-day casualty rate of the war
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Battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, lithograph by Kurz & Allison, c. 1888

Source: Britannica

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Answer:

It produced the highest single-day casualty rate of the war

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Photograph of several dead soldiers in a field after the Battle of Antietam

Source: Britannica

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Which state was created when a state split in two during the Civil War?

  • A) North Dakota
  • B) New Mexico
  • C) New Hampshire
  • D) West Virginia
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Map of the United States of America

Source: iStock

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Answer:

West Virginia

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Close-up photograph of a map of West Virginia

Source: Depositphotos

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What was the primary goal of the Confederacy in fighting the Civil War?

  • A) To destroy the Northern states
  • B) To remain an independent country where slavery was permitted
  • C) To be allowed to rejoin the United States
  • D) None of the above
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Painting of soldiers in the Confederate army fighting in the Civil War

Source: @KlimSanguine/YouTube

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Answer:

To remain an independent country where slavery was permitted

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Family of enslaved black Americans in a cotton field in Georgia, circa 1850

Source: Wikipedia

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What was the name of the secessionist faction of the Civil War?

  • A) The Confederate States of America
  • B) The Free South
  • C) The United States of America
  • D) The Union
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Map of the United States from the Civil War, diving the North and South with colors

Source: Library of Congress

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Answer:

The Confederate States of America

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The official seal of The Confederate States of America from 1862

Source: Library of Congress

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Who was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America?

  • A) Ulysses S. Grant
  • B) Abraham Lincoln
  • C) Jefferson Davis
  • D) Robert E. Lee
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Torn confederate flag flies against a blue sky

Source: Shutterstock

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Answer:

Jefferson Davis

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United States Senator Jefferson Davis’ official photograph from 1859

Source: Wikipedia

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What was the North known as during the Civil War?

  • A) The Free North
  • B) The Puritans
  • C) The Union
  • D) None of the above
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Photograph of a reenactment of the US Civil War

Source: Quora

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Answer:

The Union

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Painting of Union generals celebrating winning the Civil War

Source: @TrueCrimeDiary/X

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Which was the first state to secede from The Union?

  • A) Georgia
  • B) South Carolina
  • C) North Carolina
  • D) Kentucky
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Map of the United States during the Civil War divided into colors for the north and the south

Source: Wikipedia

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Answer:

South Carolina

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Close-up photograph of a map of South Carolina

Source: Pixaby

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How many people died in the Battle of Gettysburg?

  • A) 53,000
  • B) 12,000
  • C) 252,000
  • D) 89,000
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Hancock at Gettysburg" by Thure de Thulstrup, showing Pickett's Charge

Source: Wikipedia

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Answer:

53,000

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Scene depicting “Pickett's Charge” in the Battle of Gettysburg, from a panorama by Paul Philippoteaux, 1884; at Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania

Source: Britannica

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Which general was fired by President Lincoln for being too cautious at the Battle of Antietam?

  • A) Irvin McDowell
  • B) Andrew Johnson
  • C) George B. McClellan
  • D) James B. McPherson
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Photograph of Abraham Lincoln when he was president of the United States

Source: Pond5

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Answer:

George B. McClellan

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Original photo of George B. McClellan alongside a colorized version

Source: @ColorizedPast/X

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Which American Civil War general is considered a major architect of modern warfare?

  • A) William Tecumseh Sherman
  • B) Ulysses S. Grant
  • C) Stonewall Jackson
  • D) Robert E. Lee
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General William Tecumseh Sherman with his staff, including Oliver Otis Howard, John A. Logan, William B. Hazen, Jefferson C. Davis, Henry Warner Slocum, and Joseph A. Mower

Source: Library of Congress

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Answer:

William Tecumseh Sherman

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Black and white photograph of William Tecumseh Sherman crossing his arms across his chest

Source: Wikipedia

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Which Constitutional amendment was responsible for the formal emancipation of slaves?

  • A) The 10th Amendment
  • B) The 5th Amendment
  • C) The 12th Amendment
  • D) The 13th Amendment
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US Constitution on top of an American flag

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

The 13th Amendment

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Photograph of the 13th amendment and the first few lines

Source: Pond5

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The Civil War ended on which date?

  • A) April 9, 1865
  • B) May 15, 1901
  • C) July 4, 1865
  • D) August 10, 1776
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Painting of the South’s surrender at the McClean house at the end of the Civil War by Louis Mathieu Guillaume

Source: Wikidata

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Answer:

April 9, 1865

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Photograph of an article entitled “Lee surrenders; the war is over” in the Civil War News

Source: @WestWingReport/X

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Where was the "Battle Above Clouds" fought in 1863?

  • Max Patch
  • Chimney Tops
  • Lookout Mountain
  • Clingmans Dome
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This detailed black and white engraving depicts the historic Battle of Stirling Bridge, with medieval soldiers engaged in fierce combat. In the foreground, a wooden bridge is overrun with warriors clashing swords and shields, while others are falling into the water below

Source: Wikimedia Commons

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Answer:

Lookout Mountain

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A painting depicting the Battle of Lookout Mountain

Source: Wikimedia

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Which battle in the American Civil War was called the Waterloo of the Confederacy?

  • Battle of the Black River
  • Battle of Antietam
  • Battle of Gettysburg
  • Battle of Five Forks
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A painting depicting the Battle of Gettysburg

Source: Wikimedia

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Answer:

Battle of Five Forks

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A painting depicting the Battle of Five Forks

Source: Wikimedia

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In which city did the Draft Riot of 1863 occur?

  • Boston
  • Philadelphia
  • New York City
  • Baltimore
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A photograph taken of New York City during dusk

Source: Wikipedia

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Answer:

New York City

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Aerial view of New York City, including Central Park

Source: Freepik

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Which was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship during the American Civil War?

  • Turtle
  • Nautilus
  • H.L Hunley
  • Trieste
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An image of a US Navy submarine sailing the ocean

Source: Wikimedia

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Answer:

H.L. Hunley

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An image of the H.L. Hunley stored in water

Source: Wikimedia

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In what year was Abraham Lincoln assassinated?

  • 1861
  • 1863
  • 1865
  • 1867
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A doctored photo of Abraham Lincoln from 1865.

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

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Answer:

1865

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A drawing of President Lincoln sitting at a table with his cabinet during his presidency.

Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons

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Under which General did the Union suffer a crushing defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg?

  • John Pope
  • George Meade
  • James Longstreet
  • Ambrose Everet Burnside
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A picture depicting the Battle of Fredericksburg

Source: Wikimedia

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Answer:

Ambrose Everet Burnside

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A portrait of Union General Ambrose Everet Burnside

Source: Wikimedia

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Where did General Lee surrender to the Union?

  • The White House
  • Anne Spencer House
  • Point of Honor
  • Appomattox Court House
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White House on sunny day

Source: Aaron Kittredge/Pexels

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Answer:

Appomattox Court House

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A painting which portrays General Lee surrendering to the Union at Appomattox Court House

Source: Wikimedia

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Which battle helped the Union regain the state of Tennessee?

  • Battle of Fort Henry
  • Battle of Belmont
  • Battle of Corinth
  • Battle of the Wilderness
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Source: Wikipedia

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Answer:

Battle of Fort Henry

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An image depicting the Battle of Fort Henry
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Who proposed the "Anaconda Plan" military strategy during the American Civil War?

  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Zachary Taylor
  • Lewis Cass
  • Winfield Scott
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A photo of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, without facial hair.

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

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Answer:

Winfield Scott

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A portrait of Winfield Scott taken in 1862

Source: Wikimedia

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Which American soldier disguised herself as a man to fight in the Civil War?

  • Michelle O’Neill
  • Rachel Murphy
  • Sarah Edmonds
  • Lauren Connelly
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A woman holds an American flag in the wind on a cliff

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

Sarah Edmonds

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A portrait of Sarah Edmonds

Source: Wikimedia

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