An Independence Day quiz
Independence Day has been an official federal holiday only since 1941, but its origins date to the Revolutionary War and our nation’s independence from Great Britain. The quiz below, from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio, provides an opportunity to test your knowledge of the Fourth of July, which is much more than just a day for picnics and fireworks.
The Declaration of Independence wasn’t actually signed on the 4th of July. Which day was it officially signed?
A. July 2, 1776. B. August 2, 1776. C. November 15, 1777. D. March 1, 1781.
Which monarch reigned over the colonists at the time of the American Revolution?
A. Queen Elizabeth. B. Queen Victoria. C. King George II. D. King George III.
Who famously said, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me Liberty or give me death!”
A. Nathan Hale. B. Samuel Adams. C. Patrick Henry. D. Paul Revere.
Which signer has the largest signature on the Declaration of Independence?
A. George Washington. B. Thomas Jefferson. C. Roger Sherman. D. John Hancock.
Which country assisted the colonists with financial and military aid during the Revolutionary War?
A. England. B. France. C. Canada. D. Netherlands.
Who was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence?
A. George Washington. B. Ben Franklin. C. Roger Sherman. D. Stephen Hopkins.
Besides John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, which other president died on the Fourth of July?
A. Andrew Jackson. B. Millard Fillmore. C. James Monroe. D. James Buchanan.
Thomas Jefferson was part of a fiveperson committee to write the Declaration of Independence, along with John Adams, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman. Which man did not sign it?
A. Robert Livingston. B. Roger Sherman. C. Ben Franklin. D. John Adams.
Which signer of the Declaration of Independence stated that this holiday “ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”?
A. James Madison. B. Thomas Jefferson. C. Ben Franklin. D. John Adams.
How many signers of the Declaration of Independence were born in the United States of America?
A. 56. B. 48. C. 0. D. 13. klahoma has a huge problem. Our state does not produce enough college graduates in engineering, information technology, financial analysis, nursing, management and other economy-changing fields to fill 18,000 jobs we have open now.
Projections show this skills gap will continue to get worse over the next several years. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs is pushing an anti-education campaign that would further exacerbate the situation.
Our group, Oklahoma Tomorrow, was formed by business leaders tired of our state being 49th in everything. Part of our mission is raising awareness about the reality of higher education funding in Oklahoma.
Many people don’t realize state government pays only 30 percent of college costs, while students and families carry 56 percent of the burden. This is a complete reversal from 2001, when the state paid 62 percent and families 25 percent.
In short, Oklahoma has created a hidden tax on families. It stands as one of the primary reasons Oklahoma is not keeping pace with the nation, and why employers can’t fill critical jobs.
This is a serious problem requiring serious answers based on reality, not ideology. Blindly saying universities can sufficiently train our workforce with less money, as OCPA suggests, ignores basic facts.
The higher education system receives less money today than it did in 2001. Can anyone imagine paying less today for health insurance, utilities or information technology than they did a decade and a half ago? Costs have been rising for colleges and universities, just as they have been for our businesses and households. Still, OCPA proposes cutting the current funding amount by 46 percent. The group pretends this would not make it harder for students to afford school, and would not limit the programs colleges and universities can provide.
Their methods would require the shutdown of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma State University Center of Health Sciences in Tulsa. These are the foremost providers of medical services to the poor and needy.
Engineering and nursing schools throughout Oklahoma are already at capacity. They turn away qualified candidates because the schools cannot afford to buy the labs, technologies and learning tools required to educate modern professionals. Slashing funding would only make things worse.
If we choose not to properly train the people who build bridges, maintain computer networks and save lives, 18,000 jobs will go unfilled, and Oklahoma will fall further behind the rest of the nation.
OCPA’s arguments flunk basic math, and they would set Oklahoma up for failure and destitution for generations.
Oklahoma Tomorrow invites all citizens to join us in crafting real solutions to real problems. That is the Oklahoma spirit and the only way we can solve our problems.