July 4th U.S. Culture Quiz

From launching fireworks, to poolside fun, and firing-up the grill with family, the Fourth of July is filled with beloved traditions for U.S. Americans to enjoy. Amidst all the star-spangled excitement, consider this culture quiz about the customs and history behind this fun-filled holiday. Test your Independence Day knowledge with these fun trivia questions!

___ 1. The 18th-century diddy, Yankee Doodle, was originally written by British army officers to poke fun at backwoods U.S. Americans.

___ 2. Three United States presidents died on the Fourth of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.

___ 3. The Fourth of July has been a federal holiday since 1778.

___ 4. John Hancock was the first to sign the declaration of independence.

___ 5. Seamstress Abigail Adams sewed the first U.S. American flag.

___ 6. Paul Revere wrote the Star Spangled Banner after his famous midnight ride.

___ 7. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

___ 8. The Continental Congress designed the stars of the U.S. flag to be “white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

___ 9. The Residency Act signed by George Washington in 1790 made Washington D.C. the capital of the United States.

___ 10. At the first Fourth of July celebrations in Boston, the Continental Congress launched 13 rockets celebrating the 13 colonies into the sky.

Sharon Schweitzer and Amanda Alden co-wrote this post. Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a cross-cultural trainer, modern manners expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE centre, she serves as a Chinese Ceremonial Dining Etiquette Specialist in the documentary series Confucius was a Foodie, on Nat Geo People. She is the resident etiquette expert on two popular lifestyle shows: ABC Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend and CBS Austin’s We Are Austin. She is regularly quoted by BBC Capital, Investor’s Business Daily, Fortune, and the National Business Journals. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business,  Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, now in its third printing, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2015. She’s a winner of the British Airways International Trade Award at the 2016 Greater Austin Business Awards and the 2017 New York City Big Book Award for Multicultural Nonfiction.

Amanda Alden is an intercultural research assistant with Access to Culture. She graduated with honors from St. Edward’s University with a major in Global Studies and a minor in French, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Intercultural Mediations at l’Université de Lille III. Feel free to connect with Amanda at on LinkedIn.

Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marc I. Lane

Answer Key: 1.) T 2.) F – John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. 3.) F – The Fourth of July was declared a federal holiday in 1938. 4) T 5.) F – Betsy Ross 6.) F- Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem. 7.) T 8.) T 9.) F – Philadelphia was the first national capital. 10.) T