The Revolutionary War—also known as the American War of Independence—lasted more than eight bloody years (1775-1783), resulting in the creation and recognition of the United States of America. A tipping point in that war was the winter the Continental Army spent encamped at Valley Forge. How much do you know about Valley Forge? Were you paying attention during high-school American History class? Take our 10-question quiz to find out. The questions get harder as you go along, and the answers are at the end (but don’t peek ahead; we’ll know)!
1. What general headed the American Army during its winter encampment at Valley Forge?
a. George Washington
b. George Armstrong Custer
c. George Patton
d. George Clooney
2. Where was the Valley Forge winter encampment located?
a. New York
b. Connecticut
c. Massachusetts
d. Pennsylvania
3. What winter did the Continental Army spend at Valley Forge?
a. 1775-1776
b. 1777-1778
c. 1779-1780
d. 1780-1781
4. The deprivation of the Continental Army at Valley Forge has become legendary; what provisions did the soldiers lack?
a. Adequate food
b. Adequate clothing
c. Adequate shelter
d. All of the above
5. Of the 2,000 soldiers to perish at Valley Forge due to exposure and resulting disease, the first to die is remembered by only one name: Jethro. Who was Jethro?
a. A black slave who had been forced to fight in the army
b. A black backwoodsman who had been drafted by a colonial militia
c. A freed black man who had enlisted in the army
d. None of the above
6. The Battle of Monmouth Court House took place immediately following the winter the army spent at Valley Forge and produced what legendary heroine?
a. Betsy Ross
b. Betty Zane
c. “Molly Pitcher”
d. “Molly Catcher”
7. What European military leader trained and disciplined the American troops at Valley Forge?
a. Frenchman Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette
b. Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben
c. Otto von Bismarck
d. None of the above
8. Even though the 13 original American colonies had an estimated population of three million people during the war, the Continental Army never numbered more than approximately how many soldiers at any one time?
a. 100,000
b. 75,000
c. 50,000
d. 25,000
9. During the stress of the Valley Forge winter encampment, squabbles between Continental officers became prevalent. Although against army regulations, how were some of the officers settling their disputes?
a. Fistfighting
b. Wrestling
c. Dueling
d. Posting derogatory comments on social media sites
10. In 1796, George Washington, now nearing the end of his second and last term as president of the fledgling United States, returned alone for a final look at Valley Forge. What did he find there?
a. The area where his army had wintered was now cultivated farm fields
b. A farmer working the fields was one of his former Continental soldiers
c. The soldier did not immediately recognize Washington and apologized profusely when he finally did
d. All of the above
Answers:
- (George Washington)
- (Pennsylvania)
- (1777-1778)
- (All of the above)
- (A freed black man who had enlisted in the army)
- (“Molly Pitcher”) Believed to be Mary Ludwig Hayes, she was the wife of a Continental artilleryman. During the battle, she had been bringing water to the troops by carrying a pitcher back and forth to the front lines. When her husband was shot dead, she stepped in to man his post as a cannon swabber.
- (Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben)
- (25,000)
- (Dueling)
- (All of the above)
Scorecard:
Well, how did you do?
One to five answers correct: you rank as a private.
Six to eight answers correct: well done, you rank as an officer.
Nine or ten answers correct: You’re a general!
