American Independence Quiz Answers

Name That Place Quiz

Answer Key 

1. c. Biscayne National Park. The National Park Service calls Biscayne National Park a “watery
wonderland.” This park in eastern Florida lies within sight of downtown Miami, yet is worlds away,
protecting a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral
reefs.
2. b. Mississippi. While the Missouri River is longer than the Mississippi River, the Missouri is
considered a tributary of the mighty Mississippi. Cotton and rice are important crops in the lower
Mississippi Valley; sugarcane is raised in the delta.
3. a. Minnesota. The Minnesota River Valley is the site of some of the oldest exposed rock in the
world. Geologists estimate the Granitic Gneiss located here was formed 3.8 billion years ago.
4. b. suspension. The 1.2-mile-long suspension bridge, which was completed in 1933, connects
San Francisco and Marin County.
5. c. Washington, D.C. The National Mall is a 146-acre stretch of lawn that extends from the
Potomac River to the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The area hosts political rallies, festivals,
and other events.
6. a. Acadia National Park, Maine. Cadillac Mountain–the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic
Coast–is part of Acadia, a national park in southeastern Maine that is almost completely
surrounded by sea. Acadia National Park comprises more than 47,000 acres of land.
7. b. Washington, D.C. While you can certainly read the Gettysburg Address at the Gettysburg
National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Penn., the Lincoln Memorial is located in our nation’s capital,
Washington, D.C.
8. b. Yellowstone. Before the National Park Service was established in 1916, the U.S. Army was in
charge of protecting Yellowstone, America’s first national park.
9. a. Philadelphia. The bell, which weighs 2,000 pounds, was cast in England in 1752 for the
Pennsylvania Statehouse (now named Independence Hall) in Philadelphia.
10. c. Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In 1926, President Calvin Coolidge established the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park to preserve Appalachian history and its resources. The
mountains are named for the smoke-like haze that envelops the park’s more than 25 peaks that
rise over 6,000 feet.
11. c. obelisk. An obelisk is a four-sided structure, usually built of stone, which tapers from the
bottom up.
12. c. the White House. The British burned this 132-room mansion in 1814. As it stands today, the
White House has 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.

13. c. American Museum of Natural History, New York City. The Museum of Science in Boston
also has a planetarium named after Charles Hayden, but the American Museum of Natural History
on New York City’s Upper West Side has both a larger planetarium and a life-sized blue whale.
14. b. Battle Creek, Michigan. Today you can visit Kellogg’s Cereal City USA, an interactive
museum in Battle Creek that pays tribute to cereal and shows its impact on our culture. Visitors can
observe a re-creation of a cereal production line, meet their favorite Kellogg’s cereal-box celebrities, and buy a personalized box of cereal with their picture on it.
15. c. Point Barrow, Alaska. The location has been home to Native Inupiat Eskimo people for
more than 1,000 years under the name Ukpeagvik or “place where snowy owls are hunted.”

Patriotic Entertainment

Answer Key

1. a. “God Bless the USA.” The refrain of “God Bless the USA” continues:
“And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.”
2. a. World War II. Frankie Muniz played Willie in the film. His gruff father, played by Kevin Bacon,
helps Dink deal with war’s many scars when he returns home from battle.
3. c. “Star-Spangled Banner.” The song officially became our national anthem by an act of Congress in 1931.
4. b. Forrest Gump. This inspirational movie follows a simple man named Forrest Gump from the
rural South to the jungles of Vietnam to the hurricane-riddled Gulf Coast. The movie won six Academy Awards.
5. c. “This Land Is Your Land.” Woody Guthrie wrote “This Land Is Your Land” as a political song
in 1940. He recorded it in 1944. Many artists since have recorded slightly altered versions of the
song.
6. a. National Treasure. With the name Benjamin Franklin Gates, Cage’s character has big shoes
to fill! He also visits the original Constitution and the Declaration of Independence in his search for
a hidden cache of gold.
7. b. “Yankee Doodle.” In pre-Revolutionary America, “macaroni” was a fancy, or “dandy,” style of
dress. The song was originally used by the British to mock the poorly dressed rebels (Yankees),
and the rebel, “doodles,” quickly adopted the song as an anthem of pride.
8. b. A League of Their Own. The real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
(AAGPBL) took to the diamond in 1943 to continue America’s favorite past time while the men were
fighting in World War II. In this 1992 movie, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donell, and Madonna are part of
the Rockford Peaches, an all-girls team. Tom Hanks plays the manager, Jimmy Dugan.
9. a. 31. The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by Francis Bellamy. He wrote a
pledge that could be used by any country, so our pledge was personalized with six words in 1923:
“of the United States of America,” and with two more in 1954: “under God.”
10. b. Dave. Kevin Kline plays Dave Kovic, an average guy hired to pretend to be president. When
the real president has a heart attack, Kovic finds himself assuming more responsibility and actually
enjoying himself. Watch the movie to find out what happens!
11. c. “America the Beautiful.” A version of “America the Beautiful” performed by top country
music performers Trace Adkins, Billy Dean, Vince Gill, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Toby Keith, Brenda
Lee, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Jamie O’Neal, Kenny Rogers and Keith Urban hit the charts
following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

12. a. an aborted Moon mission. In Apollo 13, Ron Howard recreated the drama of the aborted
1970 Apollo 13 Moon mission with nail-biting detail and spectacular visual integrity. It was Apollo 1
(1967) that experienced a fatal fire, and Apollo 11 (1969) that witnessed Neil Armstrong’s first steps
on the Moon.
13. c. “Take Me out to the Ballgame.” Traditionally played during baseball’s seventh-inning
stretch, “Take Me out to the Ballgame” is the unofficial anthem of baseball. The lyrics were written
in 1908 by a vaudeville performer named Jack Norworth, and were set to the music of Albert Von
Tilzer.
14. b. Air Force One. Harrison Ford plays the president who is taken hostage by terrorists from
Kazakhstan. He seems to escape from Air Force One in an emergency capsule, but he remains on
board.
15. a. “Taps.” The first documented use of “Taps” was at a funeral was during the Civil War. A
captain ordered that the call be played for the burial of a cannoneer killed in action. Since the
enemy was close, he worried that the traditional three-gun volley would cause a renewal of fighting.

U.S. History

Answer key

1. a. the Liberty Bell was rung. The bell was rung on July 8, 1776, to mark the milestone event.
2. b. Germany, Japan, and Italy. The U.S. entered WWII in 1941, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.
3. a. 27. The 27th Amendment concerning Congressional raises and was ratified in 1992.
4. c. Emma Lazarus. Lazarus, an American poet known for her powerful poems about Judaism,
wrote “The New Colossus” in 1883.
5. b. Geraldine Ferraro. Ferraro, a U.S. Representative from New York, was Walter Mondale’s
running mate on the Democratic ticket in 1984. They lost to incumbent President Ronald Reagan
and Vice President George H. W. Bush.
6. a. Thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. Although earlier flags featured a British Union Jack or
the motto “Don’t Tread on Me,” the first flag approved by the Continental Congress had 13 stars on
a field of blue and 13 stripes.
7. b. Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt was inaugurated to a second term on January 20, 1937.
8. c. 435. There are 435 representatives in the U.S. Congress, apportioned among the states
according to their populations. Their terms are two years long.
9. c. Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson. Johnson was impeached in 1867 for violating the Tenure
of Office Act, and Clinton in 1998 for grand jury perjury and obstruction of justice, charges related to
his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. The Senate acquitted both men.
10. a. The Cabinet. The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002 brought
the number of Cabinet members to 15.
11. b. life. The President appoints justices to the Supreme Court, the highest court of the United
States, and the Senate must confirm them.
12. b. Patrick Henry. During a meeting of the legislature in Richmond in March 1775, Patrick Henry
urged his fellow Virginians to arm in self defense, closing his plea with the unforgettable sentence:
“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
13. b. Shoshone. Sacagawea was the wife of Toussaint Charbonneau, an interpreter and guide.
Their son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, was born on February 11, 1805—less than three months
after they joined the Corps of Discovery.
14. a. Antietam. With more than 23,000 casualties in a single day, Sept. 17, 1862, Antietam holds
the dubious honor of the bloodiest day of the Civil War. Gettysburg suffered twice as many casualties, but they were spread out over the course of many skirmishes in June and July 1863.
15. b. Elephant. Cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with making the symbols of the two major
political parties, the donkey and the elephant, famous. The Democrats claim that the donkey, their
symbol, is smart and brave.

Who Am I?

Answer key

 

1. c. Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh made the 33 ½-hour, 3,600-mile flight in his Wright-powered
Ryan monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis. He traveled from Roosevelt Field, N.Y., to Le Bourget Field
outside Paris May 20–21, 1927.
2. b. Frank Epperson. In 1905, when Frank Epperson was making soda pop, he accidentally left
the mixing bucket outside. During the night the mixture froze solid, with the wooden stirring stick
standing straight up. Frank started selling Epperson icicles for five cents, later changing the name
to popsicles.
3. b. Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, short-story writer, and critic born in
Boston, Mass. His intense, mysterious, and often macabre tales and poems reflected his personality.
4. a. Alan Shepard, Jr. Alan Shepard, Jr. became the first American in space on 5 May 1961,
when he went aloft in the Freedom 7 capsule for a 15-minute sub-orbital flight.
5. c. Shaun White. Called the “Flying Tomato” because of his flaming red hair, Shaun White is a
whirlwind on a snowboard. At the 2010 Winter Olympics, White added a second gold to his collection and debuted a new move: the “Double McTwist 1260”—a move incorporating two front flips
and 3½ twists. He renamed it “The Tomahawk.”
6. b. Theodore Geisel. “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is
youer than you.” This is a very Seussical quote from Theodore Geisel. Millions of fans mourned his
passing in 1991, at age 87.
7. a. DJ Grand Wizard Theodore. Born Theodore Livingstone in 1962, DJ Grand Wizard, Grand
Wizard Theodore, or GrandWizzard Theodore, is famous in the world of hip-hop turn-tablism for
inventing and perfecting the scratch and the needle drop. Many of his experiences were included in
a 2001 documentary film called Scratch.
8. c. Clarence Birdseye. By 1949, Birdseye had perfected the anhydrous freezing process, reducing the time to freeze foods from 18 hours to 1 1/2 hours.
9. a. George Washington. Sometimes called the father of our country, George Washington was
born in 1732, served two terms as president, was commander in chief of the Continental army in
the American Revolution, and died in 1799.
10. b. Milton Hershey. Hershey’s first foray in the candy business was caramels. He sold his
caramel business in 1900 and went on to produce what he called “the great American chocolate
bar.”
11. a. Derek Jeter. Such was Jeter’s reputation that when Rodriguez joined the Yankees in 2004,
Rodriguez moved to third base to allow Jeter to remain at shortstop.
12. c. Annie Leibovitz. Leibovitz began her career in 1970, when she first went to work for Rolling
Stone magazine. She left Rolling Stone in 1983 and has been with Vanity Fair since.

13. b. Martin Van Buren. Of all our presidents, eight were born British subjects: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
Andrew Jackson, and William Harrison.
14. b. Bill Gates. A Harvard College dropout, Bill Gates formed Microsoft Corp. with Paul Allen.
Their Windows operating system runs on 80% of the world’s computers. Gates also funds the
world’s largest charity, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.
15. c. Julia Ward Howe. Mother’s Day in the United States originated in 1872 with Julia Ward
Howe, a writer, abolitionist, and suffragist. In 1911, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national
holiday.

American Independence Quiz

“Name That Place”

1. This national park covers 270 square miles, and 95% of it is underwater. Divers and snorkelers
explore its shipwrecks and a bright coral reef, home to reef lobsters. Name the park.
a. Cape Cod National Seashore
b. Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary
c. Biscayne National Park
Hint: This park is located in the continental United States.

2. This state and river share a name, which comes from an Indian word meaning “Father of Waters.”
a. Missouri
b. Mississippi
c. Connecticut
Hint: This area was first explored for Spain by Hernando de Soto, who discovered the river in 1540.

3. The oldest rock in the world, the Granitic Gneiss, was found in what state?
a. Minnesota
b. Georgia
c. Alaska
Hint: This state’s motto is “L’etoile du Nord,” meaning “the star of the north” in French.

4. San Francisco is the home of a famous bridge, the Golden Gate. What kind of bridge is it?
a. arch
b. suspension
c. truss
Hint: The Brooklyn Bridge is another example of this type of bridge.

5. If you visit the National Mall, where are you?
a. Minneapolis, Minn.
b. New York City, N.Y.
c. Washington, D.C.
Hint: The definition of this type of mall is, “a usually public area often set with shade trees and designed
as a promenade or as a pedestrian walk.”

6. At certain times of the year Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the U.S. to see sunrise. In what
national park is the mountain located?
a. Acadia National Park, Maine
b. Olympic National Park, Wash.
c. Yosemite National Park, Calif.
Hint: Hikers here will see coastlines dotted with historic lighthouses, discover glaciers and lakes, and
ascend granite peaks.

7. Where should you go to read President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which is carved in the walls of
the Lincoln Memorial?
a. Gettysburg, Penn.
b. Washington, D.C.
c. Philadelphia, Penn.
Hint: The Lincoln Memorial is one of many landmarks you’ll see here.

8. Spanning 2,219,791 acres of land in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, this park was established in 1872
to preserve a wide range of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk, and to protect a
collection of extraordinary geysers and hot springs. Name this park.
a. Yosemite
b. Yellowstone
c. Yarmouth
Hint: Old Faithful lives here.

9. Where does the Liberty Bell hang?
a. Philadelphia
b. Boston
c. Virginia
Hint: The bell was rung on July 8, 1776, for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

10. Known as the “Salamander Capital of the World,” this national park is home to at least 30 different
species of salamanders! But most people come to these forests straddling the border between North
Carolina and Tennessee to get a glimpse of one of the park’s 1,500 bears. Name this park.
a. Rocky Mountain National Park
b. Mount Rainier National Park
c. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Hint: This national park is part of the Appalachian Trail.

11. The 555-foot-tall Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is an example of which of the following types of structures?
a. pyramid
b. geodesic dome
c. obelisk
Hint: In ancient times, these structures were thought to symbolize the sun god Ra.

12. If you are standing in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, what are you looking at?
a. the Capitol building
b. the Metropolitan Museum of Art
c. the White House
Hint: This building has 35 bathrooms.

13. This museum features a 94-foot-long model of a blue whale and the Hayden Planetarium:
a. Museum of Science, Boston
b. National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D. C.
c. American Museum of Natural History, New York City
Hint: This museum is located in the same city as the Met.

14. Snap, crackle, pop! Name the cereal capital of the world:
a. Kellogg, Minn.
b. Battle Creek, Michigan
c. General Mills, Idaho
Hint: This state borders four of the five Great Lakes.

15. Name the northernmost point of the 50 states.
a. Estcourt Station, Maine
b. Browning, Mont.
c. Point Barrow, Alaska
Hint: The answer would be different if the question was asked in 1958.

“Patriotic Entertainment”

1. The following lyrics are part of the refrain of which patriotic tune?

“And I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me…”

a. “God Bless the USA”
b. “God Bless America”
c. “Hats Off to the Red, White, and Blue”
Hint: Lee Greenwood recorded this hit in 1994.

2. In the movie My Dog Skip, the main character, 8-year-old Willie Morris, finds an unlikely friend in his
neighbor Dink Jenkins, a former high school sports legend. Dink leaves Yazoo, Mississippi, to fight in which war?
a. World War II
b. Vietnam
c. The Gulf War
Hint: In one of their many adventures, Willie and his dog, Skip, encounter a group of moonshiners.

3. America’s national anthem is:
a. “God Bless America”
b. “America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)”
c. “Star-Spangled Banner”
Hint: “O say can you see by the dawn’s early light.”

4. The following line is one of the most memorable from which movie, “My momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”?
a. Dave
b. Forrest Gump
c. Rocky
Hint: Actor Tom Hanks played the starring role.

5. This song, written and recorded by Woody Guthrie, puts to music a walk along our country’s highways, valleys, deserts, and wheat fields. Name the tune.
a. “America the Beautiful”
b. “What a Wonderful World”
c. “This Land Is Your Land”
Hint: Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger sang a slightly modified version of this song at President Obama’s inauguration celebration in 2009.

6. This 2004 film starring Nicolas Cage showcases historic locations, from Boston’s North Church to the
Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Name this adventure movie.
a. National Treasure
b. Raiders of the Lost Ark
c. Guarding Tess
Hint: The dollar in your pocket may hold the clue.

7. This song was popular with American troops during the Revolutionary War. Here is a part of its famous refrain: “Stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni.” Name the song.
a. “When the Saints Go Marching In”
b. “Yankee Doodle”
c. “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
Hint: This song is Connecticut’s state anthem.

8. In this movie about a baseball team assembled during World War II, the manager says, “There’s no crying in baseball!” Name the movie.
a. Bad News Bears
b. A League of Their Own
c. Field of Dreams
Hint: The fictional team featured in the movie belonged to the AAGPBL, a real-life organization.

9. How many words are in the Pledge of Allegiance?
a. 31
b. 22
c. 29
Hint: The Pledge we say today has nine more words than the original version.

10. We’ve all heard of substitute teachers, but substitute president? In this 1993 movie, a look-alike temp agency owner played by Kevin Kline fills in for the president of the United States—a temporary gig that looks like it might become permanent. Name the movie.
a. The American President
b. Dave
c. The Phantom President
Hint: The “president” falls in love with the real first lady!

11. Which song, written by Katharine Lee Bates, is often confused with our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”?
a. “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
b. “God Bless America”
c. “America the Beautiful”
Hint: Bates wrote the lyrics to this song after an inspirational trip to the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado in 1893.

12. President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 call to action spurred great advancements in our space programand launched the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The 1995 film Apollo 13 tells the story of what space event?
a. an aborted Moon mission
b. fire in the space capsule
c. first steps on the Moon
Hint: The Apollo 13 mission took place in 1970.

13. This song celebrates our national pastime. Name that tune.
a. “Eye of the Tiger”
b. “Sweet Caroline”
c. “Take Me out to the Ballgame”
Hint: This song probably helped to boost sales of Cracker Jacks.

14. This 1997 anti-terrorist movie is set in the sky, with a fictitious President Marshall turning from a hostage into a hero. Name the film.
a. Top Gun
b. Air Force One
c. Airplane!
Hint: This movie is not a comedy.

15. This haunting and eloquent military tune originated as a signal to mark the end of the day, and is used today at funerals, wreath-laying services, and memorials. What are these 24 notes called?
a. “Taps”
b. “Call to the Post”
c. “Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder”
Hint: The tune is played on a bugle.

U.S. History

1. What event took place to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
a. the Liberty Bell was rung
b. an effigy of King George III was burned
c. the signers of the Declaration of Independence danced in the streets
Hint: The event took place at the Pennsylvania Statehouse (now named Independence Hall).

2. Which countries were enemies of the U.S. during World War II?
a. Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union
b. Germany, Japan, and Italy
c. Germany, Japan, and Turkey
Hint: The enemies were among the Axis powers.

3. How many amendments, or changes, are there to the U.S. Constitution?
a. 27
b. 14
c. 33
Hint: The first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) were ratified all at once in 1791. During the 1800’s,
only four amendments were ratified. Twelve were ratified in the 1900’s.

4. Who wrote the sonnet, “The New Colossus,” which is engraved on the pedestal of the Statue of
Liberty?
a. Emily Dickinson
b. Anne Bradstreet
c. Emma Lazarus
Hint: She grew up in New York.

5. Who was the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket?
a. Sarah Palin
b. Geraldine Ferraro
c. Patsy Mink
Hint: She is a Democrat.

6. The first official U.S. flag, adopted in 1777, had what component(s) on it?
a. Thirteen stars and thirteen stripes
b. Thirteen stripes and the words “Don’t Tread on Me”
c. A British Union Jack in the upper left corner
Hint: The flag represented the number of U.S. colonies at the time it was adopted.

7. Who was the first president to be inaugurated on January 20th?
a. George Washington
b. Franklin Roosevelt
c. Herbert Hoover
Hint: The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, states that the president-elect will be inaugurated on
January 20.

8. How many representatives are there in the House of Representatives?
a. 100
b. 50
c. 435
Hint: There are a total 535 members of Congress.

9. Which two U.S. presidents were impeached?
a. Bill Clinton and William Taft
b. Richard Nixon and Andrew Johnson
c. Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson
Hint: Neither one was removed from office.

10. What special group advises the President of the United States?
a. The Cabinet
b. The Electoral College
c. The Executive Branch
Hint: George Washington organized the first presidential advisory group, which included the heads
of the three executive departments (State, Treasury, and War) and the attorney general.

11. How long is the term of Supreme Court justices?
a. 20 years
b. life
c. until he or she reaches age 75
Hint: Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement in April 2010, just days shy of his 90th
birthday.

12. Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death?”
a. John Hancock
b. Patrick Henry
c. Samuel Adams
Hint: This patriot hailed from Virginia.

13. Sacagawea, the only woman guide and interpreter on Lewis and Clark’s expedition, was a
member of what Indian tribe?
a. Cherokee
b. Shoshone
c. Apache
Hint: The language of this tribe is based on Uto-Aztecan.

14. Which battle produced the bloodiest day of the Civil War?
a. Antietam
b. Gettysburg
c. Fredericksburg
Hint: The result of this battle was “inconclusive.”

15. What is the symbol of the Republican Party?
a. Donkey
b. Elephant
c. Eagle
Hint: Republicans say their symbol represents strength and dignity.

Who Am I?

1. I was the first person to fly nonstop over the Atlantic Ocean by myself. Who am I?
a. Amelia Earhart
b. Orville Wright
c. Charles Lindbergh
Hint: This aviator was named TIME magazine’s very first Man of the Year (now he would be called Person of the Year) in 1927.

2. I was a cool friend to have—at age 11, I invented popsicles! Who am I?
a. Danny Hood
b. Frank Epperson
c. Mark Breyer
Hint: This accidental inventor originally named his invention after himself, but decided “popsicles”
sounded better.

3. I wrote what is considered the first mystery story. Who am I?
a. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
b. Edgar Allan Poe
c. Agatha Christie
Hint: The author called the story, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”

4. I was the first American in space, flying aboard the Freedom 7. Who am I?
a. Alan Shepard, Jr.
b. Neil Armstrong
c. Buzz Aldrin
Hint: This astronaut was one of the original seven chosen by NASA for its Mercury program.
5. In 2003, at the age of 17, I became the first athlete ever to compete and medal in both the Summer andWinter X Games in two different sports. Who am I?

a. Shaun Palmer
b. Luke Mitrani
c. Shaun White
Hint: This athlete is also known for his crazy ‘do.

6. I am a famous author of children’s books. I have been awarded both a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy
Award. Actors such as Mike Myers and Jim Carrey have helped give my characters voice. Who am I?
a. J. K. Rowling
b. Theodore Geisel
c. E. B. White
Hint: The name on this author’s books is a pseudonym, or pen name.

7. In 1975, I accidentally created a new sound by trying to hold a spinning record in place. The sound
became a major element of modern deejaying. Who am I?
a. DJ Grand Wizard Theodore
b. DJ Afrika Bambaataa
c. Ice-T
Hint: He was an apprentice under Grandmaster Flash.

8. After spending time in Labrador on a fur-trading expedition, I returned to the United States intrigued
and inspired by cold. I perfected the art of freezing foods. Who am I?
a. Hiram Banquet
b. Davy Crockett
c. Clarence Birdseye
Hint: This inventor was one of the founders of the General Foods company in 1924.

9. I was described as being “First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Who am I?
a. George Washington
b. Woodrow Wilson
c. Abraham Lincoln
Hint: This leader was also our nation’s first president.

10. Not only did I give the world an inexpensive yet delicious chocolate bar, but I also created a whole
town for my workers (including an amusement park!) and a home for orphans. Who am I?
a. Elizabeth Cadbury
b. Milton Hershey
c. Lady Godiva
Hint: You can visit this philanthropist’s amusement park, have a tour of the town he established, and even sample some of his chocolate—in Pennsylvania.

11. I am one of the most famous New York Yankees in baseball history. I started playing shortstop for the team in 1996, and became team captain in 2003. Who am I?
a. Derek Jeter
b. Alex Rodriguez
c. Ramiro Pena
Hint: This shortstop bats right-handed, throws right-handed, and wears uniform number 2.

12. A celebrated portrait photographer, I became known for my images of rock and roll personalities, and later, celebrities. Who am I?
a. Georgia O’Keefe
b. Anne Geddes
c. Annie Leibovitz
Hint: This artist often provokes controversy with her images, such as the pictures she took of teen star
Miley Cyrus in 2008.

13. I could be called the first truly American president, being the first president elected who was not born
a British citizen. Who am I?
a. John Quincy Adams
b. Martin Van Buren
c. James Madison
Hint: This person was our country’s eighth president.

14. One of the richest men in the world, I have so much money that I could buy and drive a new car every day for the rest of my life, and still have plenty of money left over for airplanes, yachts, and just about anything else I might want. Who am I?
a. Warren Buffett
b. Bill Gates
c. Carlos Slim Helu
Hint: This billionaire made his fortune in computers.

15. I’m widely credited with inventing Mother’s Day. I worked tirelessly to promote peace, motherhood,
and unity after witnessing the horrific carnage of the Civil War. Who am I?
a. Clara Barton
b. Georgia Hallmark
c. Julia Ward Howe
Hint: This woman wrote the words to “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as she watched Union troops march into battle in 1861.

July the 4th Independence Day

Here are some Independence Day fun facts, history and trivia.  On July the 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. Thereafter, the 13 colonies embarked on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. This most American of holidays is traditionally celebrated with parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

4th of July History & Trivia -Did You Know…

• The major objection to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. The colonists had no say in the decisions of English Parliament.
  

  The 1765 Stamp Act, a tax imposed on American colonies by the British Parliament.

• In May, 1776, after nearly a year of trying to resolve their differences with England, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Finally, in June, admitting that their efforts were hopeless; a committee was formed to compose the formal Declaration of Independence. Headed by Thomas Jefferson, the committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. On June 28, 1776, Thomas Jefferson presented the first draft of the declaration to Congress.
  

  The Second Continental Congress

• Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee.
  

  Betsy Ross presenting the first American flag to George Washington

• Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
  

  First celebration of the Independence Day in Philadelphia

• The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon.
  

  The Independence Hall and Liberty Bell

• June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, looking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag. “Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
  

  The first American flag

• The word ‘patriotism’ comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland’ or ‘fatherland.’
• The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
  

  The White House in 1804 ( During Pres. Thomas Jefferson )

• Before cars ruled the roadway, the Fourth of July was traditionally the most miserable day of the year for horses, tormented by all the noise and by the boys and girls who threw firecrackers at them.
• The first Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi occurred at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Lewis and Clark in 1805.
  

  A depiction of the Independence Creek in 1805

• On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter to Roger C. Weightman, declining an invitation to come to Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was the last letter that Jefferson, who was gravely ill, ever wrote.
  

  Jefferson’s 50th anniversary letter

• Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
  

  John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

• The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred on August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it.
• The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
• Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777.
  

  Thomas McKean

• The origin of Uncle Sam probably began in 1812, when Samuel Wilson was a meat packer who provided meat to the US Army. The meat shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. Someone joked that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam”. This joke eventually led to the idea of Uncle Sam symbolizing the United States government.
• In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

Read more on the Declaration of Independence.

Independence Day Trivia & Facts – An Inspired America:

• Thirty places nationwide with “liberty” in their name. Liberty, Missouri (26,232) boasts the highest population of the 30 at 26,232. Iowa has more of these places than any other state at four: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
• Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Missouri, with 113,288 residents.
• Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, California, with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.
• There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Indiana, with a population of 202.
• And what could be more fitting than spending the day in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, with 21,941 residents. Check out American Fact Finder.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
–The Declaration of Independence 4 of July, 1776.

Effects of the Revolutionary War

The american revolution had an amazing impact on the rest of the world. First of all, America was the first colony to revolt against its mother country and monarchy government. The american revolution’s success started many enlightenment thoughts and ideas. So in 1848 dozens of countries started revolutions with there monarchy governments. People thought if America did it and it worked that good for them then why not we start a revolution. So they did….. the most famous of revolutions following after america is the French Revolution. There revolution had more turmoil and disaster. But was the enlightenment capital of the world which spread ideas of revolution throughout the world. If America didnt have a revolution i would think that the world would be still of kings and Queens. The shot heard around the world spread revolutionary ideas throughout the World.

Trivia of the Day

Frederic-August Bartholdi is the person behind the making or the one who sculpted The Statue of Liberty.

 

A Brief History of Toblerone

In 1867, Jean Tobler, a Swiss chocolatier, opened his first store in Bern, Switzerland. Followed in 1899 by his own chocolate factory, Mr. Tobler, became a master at quality recipes and unique tasting treats. In 1908 with the help of his son and cousin, the Toblerone was born. With a special recipe, triangular shape and packaging logo, the Toblerone chocolate bar became the Swiss representation of excellence that has held it’s own to this day.

 

Toblerone is unique in many ways from its manufacturing, recipe, shape, logo and even licensing.

 

Made from the finest ingredients, Toblerone is manufactured exclusively in Bern, Switzerland. This chocolate production center is constantly being updated and improved making it one of the most modern factories in the world. A representative of perfection, quality and efficiency, the Bern plant is frequently used as a model for other manufacturing sources.

The recipe for Toblerone includes the finest quality cocoa beans, milk, and sugar, but adds honey and almonds. The powdered milk comes mainly from Switzerland – another unique and special feature. This unusual recipe helped develop the bar’s name. Toblerone is a combination of the name Tobler, for the inventors, and the word “Torrane,” which is an Italian nougat specialty of almonds and honey.

 

The Toblerone triangular shape, a reminder of the peaks of the Swiss MatterHorn, placed this chocolate ahead of all others. Standing taller than chocolate bars of the time and packaged in thin, triangular tubes, this chocolate gets noticed quickly. In fact, the Tobler Company, Tobler AG, applied for a patent for the Toblerone manufacturing process in 1906; two years before the bar hit the market. This made Toblerone the first patented milk chocolate with almonds and honey. The number of peaks varies on each size bar from three to seventeen, but the triangular shape is a give-away that you’re enjoying the Toblerone quality.

 

The name Toblerone was also registered as a brand name in Switzerland in 1909. The logo, a triangular MatterHorn with a bear hidden within the sketch has evolved through the years and the chocolate varieties. First introduced as a milk chocolate bar, the logo started as an eagle taking flight. The bear, Bern’s heraldic animal, followed and fluctuated with the eagle until the introduction of a semi-sweet bar where the first MatterHorn logo appeared. With the introduction of the white chocolate bar, minis, filled and specialty chocolate varieties the MatterHorn blue and white logo is finalized and appears on most packages.

 

Today, Toblerone is exported and sold in many countries. Varieties are numerous and specialty chocolates are available during the holiday season including those marked with the letter “k” to symbolize that all the Jewish dietary laws regarding choice of ingredients and manufacturing have been observed. And, of course, to keep the candy market and customers on their toes, there is a “Berner Bär,” a non-triangular Toblerone with a relief portrait of the Bernese Bear and the Bern city shield on its face.

 

Whichever variety or size you select, enjoy this rich and unique Swiss chocolate.

Causes of the American Revolution

The American Revolution began in 1775 as open conflict between the united thirteen coloniesand Great Britain. By the Treaty of Paris that ended the war in 1783, the colonies had won their independence. While no one event can be pointed to as the actual cause of the revolution, the war began as a disagreement over the way in which Great Britain treated the colonies versus the way the colonies felt they should be treated. Americans felt they deserved all the rights of Englishmen. The British, on the other hand, felt that the colonies were created to be used in the way that best suited the crown and parliament. This conflict is embodied in one of the rallying cries of the American Revolution: No Taxation Without Representation.

America’s Independent Way of Thinking

First, let’s take a look at the mindset of the founding fathers.

• Geographic Considerations – The distance of the colonies from Great Britain created an independence that was hard to overcome. Those willing to colonize the new world generally had a strong independent streak desiring new opportunities and more freedom.
• Colonial Legislatures – The existence of colonial legislatures meant that the colonies were in many ways independent of the crown. The legislatures were allowed to levy taxes, muster troops, and pass laws. Over time, these powers became rights in the eyes of many colonists. When they were curtailed by the British, conflict ensued. The future leaders of the United States were born in these legislatures.
• Salutary Neglect – Even though the British believed in mercantilism, Prime Minister Robert Walpole espoused a view of “salutary neglect.” This was a system whereby the actual enforcement of external trade relations was lax. He believed this enhanced freedom would stimulate commerce.
• The Enlightenment – Many of the revolutionary leaders had studied major writings of the Enlightenment including those of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the Baron de Montesquieu. From these writings, the founders gleaned the concepts of thesocial contract, limited government, the consent of the governed, and separation of powers.

Major Events That Led to the American Revolution

The road to revolution built slowly over time. Many events fed the growing desire of the thirteen colonies for independence. Following are the major events that led to the Revolution.

• 1754-1763 – French and Indian War
  This war between Britain and France ended with the victorious British deeply in debt and demanding more revenue from the colonies. With the defeat of the French, the colonies became less dependent on Britain for protection.
• 1763 – Proclamation of 1763
  This prohibited settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains. While Britain did not intend to harm the colonists, many colonists took offense at this order.
• 1764 – Sugar Act
  This act raised revenue by increasing duties on sugar imported from the West Indies.
• 1764 – Currency Act
  Parliament argued that colonial currency had caused a devaluation harmful to British trade. They banned American assemblies from issuing paper bills or bills of credit.
• 1764 – Committees of Correspondence
  Organized by Samuel Adams, these helped spread propaganda and information through letters.
• 1765 – Quartering Act
  Britain ordered that colonists were to house and feed British soldiers if necessary.
• 1765 – Stamp Act
  This required tax stamps on many items and documents including playing cards, newspapers, and marriage licenses. Prime Minister George Grenville stated that this direct tax was intended for the colonies to pay for defense. Previous taxes imposed by Britain had been indirect, or hidden.
  • 1765 – Stamp Act Congress
    In 1765, 27 delegates from nine colonies met in New York City and drew up a statement of rights and grievances thereby bringing colonies together in opposition to Britain.
  • 1765 – Sons and Daughters of Liberty
    Colonists tried to fight back by imposing non-importation agreements. The Sons of Liberty often took the law into their own hands enforcing these ‘agreements’ by methods such as tar and feathering.
• 1767 – Townshend Acts
  These taxes were imposed to help make the colonial officials independent of the colonists and included duties on glass, paper, and tea. Smugglers increased their activities to avoid the tax leading to more troops in Boston.
• 1770 – Boston Massacre
  The colonists and British soldiers openly clashed in Boston. This event was used as an example of British cruelty despite questions about how it actually occurred.
• 1773 – Tea Act
  To assist the failing British East India Company, the Company was given a monopoly to trade tea in America.
  • 1773 – Boston Tea Party
    A group of colonists disguised as Indians dumped tea overboard from three ships in Boston Harbor.
• 1774 – Intolerable Acts
  These were passed in response to the Boston Tea Party and placed restrictions on the colonists including outlawing town meetings and the closing of Boston Harbor.
• 1774 – First Continental Congress
  In response to the Intolerable Acts, 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia from September-October, 1774. One of the main results of this was the creation of The Association calling for a boycott of British goods.
• 1775 – Lexington and Concord
  In April, British troops were ordered to Lexington and Concord to seize stores of colonial gunpowder and to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock. At Lexington, open conflict occurred and eight Americans were killed. At Concord, the British troops were forced to retreat with the loss of 70 men. This was the first instance of open warfare.
• 1775 – Second Continental Congress
  All 13 colonies were represented at this meeting in Philadelphia beginning May. The colonists still hoped that their grievances would be met by King George III. George Washington was named head of the Continental Army.
• 1775 – Bunker Hill
  This major victory for the Colonists resulted in George III proclaiming the colonies in rebellion.

In the end, the American Revolution grew out of increasing restrictions placed upon the colonies by the British. One interesting side note: It is estimated that only one-third of the colonists were in favor of rebellion. One-third continued to side with the British. The last third were neutral concerning the rebellion and break from Great Britain.

Source : A History of the World (revised edition)

Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Money

1. The Largest Banknote

Measuring in at roughly the size of a sheet of legal paper, the world’s largest single banknote is the 100,000-peso note created by the government of the Philippines in 1998. Designed to celebrate a century of independence from Spanish rule, the note was offered only to collectors, who could purchase one of the limited-edition notes for 180,000 pesos, or about $3,700.

2. One in a Million

The largest banknote ever issued by the Bank of England was the £1,000,000 note, issued in 1948 as a temporary measure during the postwar reconstruction in the Marshall Plan. Designed for use by the U.S. government only, the notes were canceled after just a few months, allowing very few to escape into private hands. But just because the notes are out of service doesn’t mean they’re valueless — in 2008, one of two known surviving notes fetched almost $120,000 at auction.

3. The World’s First ATM

It might just be the best idea to come to a man in the bathtub since Archimedes’ time. While taking a soak, inventor John Shepherd-Barron devised what is hailed as the world’s first automatic teller machine, although his claim to the title is a matter of dispute. He pitched the device to the British bank Barclays. It accepted immediately, and the first model was built and installed in London in 1967. Though the machine used PIN (personal identification number) codes, a concept Shepherd-Barron also claims to have invented, it was dependent on checks impregnated with the (slightly) radioactive isotope carbon 14 to initiate a withdrawal, as the magnetic coding for ATM cards had not yet been developed. One other difference from its ubiquitous modern counterpart: it didn’t charge a fee.

4. The Origins of $

No one knows the origin of the dollar sign, but the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a pretty good guess. The government agency responsible for designing and printing all those crisp dollar bills says the design, originally used to denote Spanish and Mexican pesos, “P ^S ,” came to be written such that the S was on top of the the P. The symbol was widely used before the 1875 issue of the first U.S. paper dollar. And in case you never noticed, it doesn’t actually appear on U.S. currency at all.

5. You Can’t Take It with You

All bills eventually wear out. The smaller the value, the more often you use it — and the shorter its lifespan. A $1 bill lasts a measly 21 months, while a Ben Franklin can last more than seven years. Over that time, of course, owing to inflation, its value will decline — which is the perfect excuse to spend it quickly.

6. America’s Counterfeit Cops

Following the Civil War, counterfeit currency became such a rampant problem in the U.S. — more than a third of all bills were believed to be fakes — that the government was forced to act. In 1865, a special division of the Treasury Department was created to crack down on counterfeiting before it completely undermined the nation’s economic system. That agency still fights bogus money today, but it’s better known for its dark-suited agents and intimidating SUVs — it’s the United States Secret Service, which also protects the President and other top political leaders. President Abraham Lincoln authorized the Secret Service on April 14, 1865 (ironically, the day he was assassinated at Ford’s Theater); its mission expanded to full-time presidential protection following the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901. The 6,500-person agency was moved to the newly established Department of Homeland Security in 2002.

7. It’s All About the Elizabeths

From Australia to Trinidad and Tobago, Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait has graced the currencies of 33 different countries — more than that of any other individual. Canada was the first to use the British monarch’s image, in 1935, when it printed the 9-year-old Princess on its $20 notes. Over the years, 26 different portraits of Elizabeth have been used in the U.K. and its current and former colonies, dominions and territories — most of which were commissioned with the direct purpose of putting them on banknotes. However, some countries, such as Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Malta and Fiji, used already existing portraits. The Queen is frequently shown in formal crown-and-scepter attire, although Canada and Australia prefer to depict her in a plain dress and pearls. And while many countries update their currencies to reflect the Queen’s advancing age, others enjoy keeping her young. When Belize redesigned its currency in 1980, it selected a portrait that was already 20 years old.

8. Dirty Money

All money, it turns out, could stand to be laundered: the stuff is filthy. Studies show that a solid majority of U.S. bills are contaminated by cocaine. Drug traffickers often use coke-sullied hands to move cash, and many users roll bills into sniffing straws; the brushes and rollers in ATMs may distribute the nose candy through the rest of the money supply.

Also found on bills: fecal matter. A 2002 report in the Southern Medical Journal showed found pathogens — including staphylococcus — on 94% of dollar bills tested. Paper money can reportedly carry more germs than a household toilet. And bills are a hospitable environment for gross microbes: viruses and bacteria can live on most surfaces for about 48 hours, but paper money can reportedly transport a live fluvirus for up to 17 days. It’s enough to make you switch to credit.

9. Inflation Nation

To deal with hyperinflation that reached the ludicrous level of 231 million % and saw the price for a loaf of bread hit 300 billion Zimbabwean dollars, Zimbabwe’s newly formed unity government — including bitter opponents President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai — issued a $100 trillion note in early January. (One hundred trillion, by the way, is a 1 with 14 zeroes — making the note the highest denomination in the world.)

Just weeks later, however, the leaders decided to back-burner the hugely devalued Zimbabwean dollar and began allowing people to do business in other currencies. The move managed to curb inflation for several months until a small uptick in July. One hopes some of those $100 trillion notes didn’t get spent all in one place.

10. The First Paper Money

Paper bills were first used by the Chinese, who started carrying folding money during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907) — mostly in the form of privately issued bills of credit or exchange notes — and used it for more than 500 years before the practice began to catch on in Europe in the 17th century. While it took another century or two for paper money to spread to the rest of the world, China was already going through a fairly advanced financial crisis: the production of paper notes had grown until their value plummeted, prompting inflation to soar. As a result, China eliminated paper money entirely in 1455 and wouldn’t adopt it again for several hundred years. Another not-so-well-known fact: the word cash was originally used to describe the type of round bronze coins with square holes commonly used in the Tang Dynasty, calledkai-yuans.

Why the history of dogs is still a mystery

Our ignorance about canine history can be blamed, ironically, on our own love for dogs. Scientists recently tried tracing dogs’ genetic lines—and culling out details of their early domestication—but lost track in the 19th century, when Victorians established today’s standard breeds. The 15,000 years that came before that are a “big blurred mess,” says a British researcher. “We love them so much, we’ve completely obliterated their early history and made it more difficult to understand their origins.”

Some modern breeds, like Aghan hounds and Salukis, do have deeper genetic roots, but only go back a couple thousand years—not nearly enough to reach the first domesticated dogs. Researchers did conclude, however, that these “ancient breeds” look different simply because they avoided being hybridized in the mid-19th century. Still on our list of doggie questions: where and how many times they were domesticated, and how many wolf populations contributed to the modern canine.

Dr. Jose Rizal’s 151st Birth Anniversary

RIZAL AND THE FLAG ~ source: www.inquirer.net

First of all, im a Filipino and posting this will an honor to our national hero. I wish you will appreciate my post for it is his 151st birth anniversary. Please Spread 🙂

Dr. Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonzo y Realonda , the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguished families.

His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called “a model of fathers,” came from Biñan, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called “loving and prudent mother,” was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kabata,” the theme of which revolves on the love of one’s language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of “excellent” from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo. He finished the latter course on March 21, 1877 and passed the Surveyor’s examination on May 21, 1878; but because of his age, 17, he was not granted license to practice the profession until December 30, 1881. In 1878, he enrolled in medicine at the University of Santo Tomas but had to stop in his studies when he felt that the Filipino students were being discriminated upon by their Dominican tutors. On May 3, 1882, he sailed for Spain where he continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid. On June 21, 1884, at the age of 23, he was conferred the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and on June 19,1885, at the age of 24, he finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of “excellent.”

Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native dialects. A versatile genius, he was an architect, artists, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian.

He was an expert swordsman and a good shot. In the hope of securing political and social reforms for his country and at the same time educate his countrymen, Rizal, the greatest apostle of Filipino nationalism, published, while in Europe, several works with highly nationalistic and revolutionary tendencies. In March 1887, his daring book, NOLI ME TANGERE, a satirical novel exposing the arrogance and despotism of the Spanish clergy, was published in Berlin; in 1890 he reprinted in Paris, Morga’s SUCCESSOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS with his annotations to prove that the Filipinos had a civilization worthy to be proud of even long before the Spaniards set foot on Philippine soil; on September 18, 1891, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, his second novel and a sequel to the NOLI and more revolutionary and tragic than the latter, was printed in Ghent. Because of his fearless exposures of the injustices committed by the civil and clerical officials, Rizal provoked the animosity of those in power. This led himself, his relatives and countrymen into trouble with the Spanish officials of the country. As a consequence, he and those who had contacts with him, were shadowed; the authorities were not only finding faults but even fabricating charges to pin him down. Thus, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago from July 6, 1892 to July 15, 1892 on a charge that anti-friar pamphlets were found in the luggage of his sister Lucia who arrive with him from Hong Kong. While a political exile in Dapitan, he engaged in agriculture, fishing and business; he maintained and operated a hospital; he conducted classes- taught his pupils the English and Spanish languages, the arts.

The sciences, vocational courses including agriculture, surveying, sculpturing, and painting, as well as the art of self defense; he did some researches and collected specimens; he entered into correspondence with renowned men of letters and sciences abroad; and with the help of his pupils, he constructed water dam and a relief map of Mindanao – both considered remarkable engineering feats. His sincerity and friendliness won for him the trust and confidence of even those assigned to guard him; his good manners and warm personality were found irresistible by women of all races with whom he had personal contacts; his intelligence and humility gained for him the respect and admiration of prominent men of other nations; while his undaunted courage and determination to uplift the welfare of his people were feared by his enemies.

When the Philippine Revolution started on August 26, 1896, his enemies lost no time in pressing him down. They were able to enlist witnesses that linked him with the revolt and these were never allowed to be confronted by him. Thus, from November 3, 1986, to the date of his execution, he was again committed to Fort Santiago. In his prison cell, he wrote an untitled poem, now known as “Ultimo Adios” which is considered a masterpiece and a living document expressing not only the hero’s great love of country but also that of all Filipinos. He opened the eyes of fellow countrymen and through his words comes his bravery because he faced the government when they heard about his novels that it was pointing to the slavery of his people to the foreign rulers which specifically Spain. After a mock trial, he was convicted of rebellion, sedition and of forming illegal association. In the cold morning of December 30, 1896, Rizal, a man whose 35 years of life had been packed with varied activities which proved that the Filipino has capacity to equal if not excel even those who treat him as a slave, was shot at Bagumbayan Field. He showed great patriotism in of his people even he didnt use an edge but he only used a pen to  make a change, he truly deserves to be the Philippines National Hero and a Happy 151st Birth Anniversary to him.

Thank you for reading.