Times/News

For a free, self-governing people something more than a vague familiarity with history is essential, if we are to hold on to and sustain our freedom.

David McCullough

Not long ago, I promised readers a Times/News quiz on American history. It remains a work in progress.

In the meantime, political columnist David Broder has noted the testimony of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough before a Senate committee.

The focus of this inquiry was "U.S. History: Our Worst Subject?"

McCullough, author of the current best-selling 1776, contrasted the popularity of Harry Potter books among young readers with their lack of interest in (and knowledge of) American history.

He placed much of the blame on history textbooks.

"To make history boring is a crime," McCullough declared.

By not teaching our children American history - and by making it dry as dust on those rare occasions when they are required to study the subject - "we are running a terrible risk," McCullough warned.

On the other hand, when the American experience (not so-called multi-cultural studies) is made interesting and presented creatively - Ken Burns' The Civil War is an excellent example beyond the written word - it entertains as well as enlightens children and adults alike.

Just for the fun of it, here are 10 questions from the forthcoming quiz:

1. What is the Magna Carta?

a. The foundation of the British parliamentary system.

b. The Great Seal of the monarchs of England.

c. The French Declaration of the Rights of Man.

d. The charter signed by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower.

2. The Declaration of Independence:

a. Proclaimed war against Nazi Germany.

b. Ended slavery.

c. Proclaimed the United States was a separate nation.

d. Started the Protestant Reformation.

3. It was written by:

a. Abraham Lincoln

b. Thomas Jefferson

c. John Hancock.

d. George Washington.

4. The United States Constitution established three branches of government, the executive branch, the legislative branch and the:

a. Cabinet.

b. Armed forces.

c. Judiciary.

d. Press.

5. The first president of the United States was:

a. Abraham Lincoln

b. Thomas Jefferson

c. Benjamin Franklin

d. George Washington

6. The Corps of Discovery was led by:

a. Christopher Columbus

b. Lewis and Clark

c. Daniel Boone

d. Neil Armstrong

7. The Battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point in:

a. The Civil War.

b. The Spanish-American War.

c. World War II.

d. The Vietnam War.

8. The Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery:

a. In Confederate slave states.

b. In border slave states that did not belong to the confederacy.

c. In the northern states.

d. All of the above.

9. President Franklin Roosevelt introduced New Deal economic programs during:

a. The Great Society.

b. The Cold War

c. The Great Depression.

d. Reconstruction.

10. The Berlin Wall came down under President:

a. Bush (George HW).

b. Nixon.

c. Truman.

d. Franklin Roosevelt.

The answers: 1(a), 2(c), 3(b), 4(c), 5(d), 6(b), 7(a), 8(a), 9(c), 10(a).

So how did you do? If you got a few wrong, not to worry. These lazy days of summer are a perfect time to pick up a good history that brings our past alive. Like 1776.