So, you think you’re a good patriot. Your table cloth, desserts and even your jammies will be red, white and blue this weekend and you’ll shout “USA! USA!” during the Olympics even for sports you don’t care about.

Excellent. But before you ice the beer and fix the potato salad for the big holiday barbecue, try your hand at Spin Control’s annual Independence Day Trivia quiz, which we offer each year as a holiday from politics.

It has 13 questions, one for each rebel colony. Some are pretty easy, some a bit tougher. Answers are in the post below, but no peeking. Only a Tory would cheat.

1. We celebrate July Fourth as Independence Day because that’s the day:

A. Colonists tossed the tea in Boston Harbor;

B. Patrick Henry declared “Give me liberty or give me death!”;

C. The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence:

D. The American Revolution ended.

2. Which of the following happened after the colonies declared their independence?

A. George Washington took command of the Continental Army;

B. The Minutemen fought British regulars at Lexington and Concord;

C. The Battle of Bunker Hill;

D. American troops spent a hard winter at Valley Forge.

3. When we set off fireworks to celebrate Independence Day, we’re following a tradition that dates back to what country?

A. Great Britain

B. China

C. Rome

D. Greece

4. Where was the Continental Congress meeting when it declared independence?

A. Washington, D.C.

B. New York

C. Boston

D. Philadelphia

5. Which of the following phrases are NOT found in the Declaration of Independence?

A. We the people of the United States. . .

B. When in the course of human events. . .

C. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. . .

D. Our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor...

6. Who reportedly said “I have not yet begun to fight”?

A. George Washington

B. Nathan Hale

C. John Paul Jones

D. Benedict Arnold

7. Who was king when the colonies declared independence?

A. George I

B. George II

C. George III

D. George IV

8. The declaration lists a series of grievances the colonists had against the king. Which was NOT one of them?

A. Imposing taxes without their consent; 

B. Suspending colonial legislatures;

C. Sending lots of government officials to harass them;

D. Ordering them to surrender their firearms.

9. Which of the following was NOT one of the original 13 colonies?

A. New York

B. New Jersey

C. New Hampshire

D. New Mexico

10. What southern city refused to celebrate July 4 for more than 80 years?

A. Vicksburg

B. Richmond

C. Atlanta

D. Chattanooga

11. During the American Revolution, the British supplemented their troops with paid soldiers from:

A. France

B. Germany

C. Poland

D. Russia

12. John Adams was George Washington’s vice president. Thomas Jefferson was Adams’ veep. Who was Jefferson’s vice president when he was first elected?

A. John Adams

B. James Madison

C. Aaron Burr

D. Alexander Hamilton

13. How many colonies ratified the Declaration of Independence on July 4?

A. 7, it only took a simple majority;

B. 9, it took a two-thirds majority;

C. 12, one colony held out;

D. All 13.

Check your answers here

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