Quiz: Historical “Facts” That Are Actually Completely Inaccurate

By: Ben Campbell | Published: Apr 10, 2024

We like to think we have a great understanding of history in our modern era due to the plethora of information available online.

However, we all regurgitate plenty of historical “facts” that have no basis in reality. Test out your knowledge and see if you can determine fact from fiction.

1. When did the Revolutionary War officially end?

September 30, 1781
October 19, 1781
September 3, 1783
October 19, 1783

A painting depicting George Washington crossing the Delaware River in 1776

Source: Wikipedia

Answer

September 3, 1783

The committee of five in charge of drafting the Declaration of Independence

Source: Wikipedia

2. Who was the first explorer to discover America?

Christopher Columbus
Leif Erikson
Juan Ponce de León
Hernan Cortes

Source: Freepik

Answer

Leif Erikson

An image of Leaf Erikson arriving on American soil by Hans Dahl

Source: Wikipedia

3. Where was the first capital city in the United States?

Washington D.C
Jamestown
New York City
Hampton

Source: Freepik

Answer

New York City

Source: Wikipedia

4. Where did Cleopatra's ancestors originate?

Egypt
Armenia
Macedonia Greece
India

Source: Wikipedia

Answer

Macedonia Greece

Source: Wikipedia

5. Who invented the first car?

Alexander Winton
Karl Benz
Henry Ford
George B. Selden

Source: Wikimedia

Answer

Karl Benz

Source: Wikimedia

6. Where did the Vikings come from?

Norway
Sweden
Denmark
All of the above

Source: Wikimedia

Answer

All of the above

Source: Wikipedia

7. What happened to those convinced of being witches at the Salem trials?

Burned at the stake
Buried alive
Hanged at the gallows
Exiled to sea

A drawing portraying a portion of the Salem witch trials

Source: Wikimedia

Answer

Hanged at the gallows

An accused witch being sentenced to death by hanging at the gallows in Salem

Source: Micoope

8. What did Jim Jones give his cult members to drink?

Kool-aid
Gatorade
Flavor-aid
Water

Image of JIm Jones pictured in a suit jacket and sunglasses

Source: Wikimedia

Answer

Flavor-aid

Source: Freepik

9. Who invented baseball?

Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr
Abner Doubleday
Fred Merkle
Joe Jackson

A young kid is pictured playing baseball

Source: Freepik

Answer

Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr

Source: Wikimedia

10. When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

June 4, 1776
July 4, 1776
July 14, 1776
August 2nd, 1776

Men pictured writing the Declaration of Independence on a small wooden table

Source: Wikimedia

Answer

August 2nd, 1776

Source: Wikipedia

11. Which American battle saw the most casualties

Battle of Gettysburg
The storming of Normandy (D-Day)
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Chickamauga

A painting of the Battle of Long Island by 21st-century artist Domenick D’Andrea

Source: Wikipedia

Answer

The Battle of Antietam

Source: Wikimedia

12. Who Invented the first electric light?

Thomas Edison
Humphry Davy
Joseph Swan
William Sawyer

A photo of a small light that sits in a shed

Source: Freepik

Answer

Humphry Davy

Source: Wikimedia

13. What shape did people think the earth was in the Middle Ages?

Flat
Square
Spherical
Triangular

An image that shows half of the Earth from space

Source: Freepik

Answer

Spherical

Source: Freepik

14. When did the American Civil War officially end?

April 9, 1865
May 9, 1865
June 9, 1865
None of the above

An image that shows the Confederates capturing a Union battery

Source: Wikipedia

Answer

May 9, 1865

A painting depicting the surrender of General Grant at Appomattox Court House

Source: Wikipedia

15. Who Built The Egyptian Pyramids

Jewish slaves
European nomads
Egyptians
Arabs

An image taken at the Giza Plateau of the Great Pyramid

Source: Wikimedia

Answer

Egyptians

Source: Wikimedia