Test your knowledge of historical events, notable figures, and cultural facts associated with the month of March.
1) Which amendment to the United States Constitution moved inauguration day from March to January in 1933?
A) The First Amendment
B) The Fifth Amendment
C) The Sixteenth Amendment
D) The Twentieth Amendment
2) Which Irish Saint, whose feast day is March 17, is said to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland?
A) Saint Michael the Archangel
B) Saint Jude
C) Saint Patrick
D) Saint Joseph
3) Which famous Roman ruler was warned to “Beware the Ides of March?”
A) Augustus
B) Julius Caesar
C) Tiberius
D) Constantine
4) Which popular toy is known for her many careers and was introduced by Mattel on March 9, 1959?
A) Baby Alive
B) American Girl
C) Barbie
D) Crissy
5) What annual men’s basketball tournament known for its “bracket” craze takes place in March?
A) NCAA March Madness
B) NBA Globetrotters Series
C) WNBA Magic League Matchup
D) NCAA Olympic World Cup
6) What is the term for the astronomical state of spring in the Northern Hemisphere which occurs in March?
A) The Autumnal Equinox
B) The Vernal Equinox
C) Equatorial Equinox
D) Overwintering
7) Which U.S. President born in March is associated with “The Trail of Tears?”
A) George Washington
B) Andrew Jackson
C) Abraham Lincoln
D) Ulysses S. Grant
8) Which U.S. President born in March died just 31 days into his term?
A) William Henry Harrison
B) John Tyler
C) James K. Polk
D) Zachary Taylor
9) What is the primary birthstone for the month of March?
A) Aquamarine
B) Diamond
C) Sapphire
D) Topaz
10) On March 7, 1876, who was granted a patent for the telephone?
A) Alexander Hamilton
B) Alexander Graham Bell
C) Thomas Edison
D) Samuel F. B. Morse
11) On March 6, 1836, the 13-day siege of which Texas mission came to an end?
A) The Salt March
B) Petersburg
C) The Alamo
D) Vicksburg
12) What is the nickname for the full moon in March, named after creatures who emerge from the warming ground?
A) The ant moon
B) The groundhog moon
C) The mole moon
D) The worm moon
Answer Key plus bonus information
1.) D – The Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution, also known as the “Lame Duck Amendment,” was passed by Congress and ratified by the States in January of 1933. The amendment was proposed and authored by Senator George Norris, and the legislation was introduced five previous times before it met success on a sixth try. It closed the gap between winning the election and taking the Oath of Office and moved inauguration day from March 4 to January 20. Source: The White House Historical Association
2.) C – Saint Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland from the 5th Century, was born in Britain by a Romanized family, was captured at age 16 by Irish raiders and carried into slavery in Ireland. After spending six years as a herdsman, he escaped and was reunited with his family. Called in a dream to bring Christianity to the Irish, he returned and baptized chiefs and Kings and converted many. One popular legend says he rid Ireland of snakes, though experts say the limbless reptiles likely never existed there. Source: Britannica
3.) B – Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who was the dictator of the Roman Republic at various points from 49 BC until his assassination in 44 BC. The expression “Beware the Ides of March’ derives from the fact that Ceasar was murdered by a group of Roman senators on March 15, 44 BC, aka the Ides of March. Source: Phrase Finder
4.) C – Barbie’s creation was inspired by the German Bild Lilli doll. This beloved iconic 11.5-inch fashion doll was made by Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler and Jack Ryan to inspire imaginative and adult roleplay for children. The doll’s “birthname” is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Affectionately called Barbie, the doll represents over 200 careers to empower young girls. Source: Fun Kids
5.) A – NCAA March Madness, also branded as “The Big Dance,” is the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division 1 men’s basketball tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament played in the US to determine the men’s college basketball national champion of the Division 1 level in the NCAA. Source: Britannica
6.) B – The vernal equinox takes place in March each year and signals the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. During the vernal or spring equinox, the amount of daylight and darkness is nearly the same length. Source: History.com
7.) B – Andrew Jackson is the U.S. President who is associated with the Trail of Tears. Known as the “Removal Era,” approximately 100,000 indigenous people from the southeast were forced from their homes, with about 15,000 dying during the journey west. Source: Britannica
8.) A – William Henry Harrison was the ninth U.S. president, serving the shortest term in history. At that time, he was the oldest president elected (age 67) and died just 31 days into his term after falling ill following a long inaugural address in cold weather. He was the last president born under British rule and the first to die in office. Source: Britannica
9.) A – Aquamarine is the name used for gem-quality specimens of the mineral beryl, ranging in color from greenish blue to blue and from very light to vibrant in color. The name comes from a combination of two Latin words, aqua, meaning water and marine, meaning sea. Many people are familiar with aquamarine as it is the birthstone for the month of March. Source: Geology.com
10.) B – Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor, scientist, and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone on March 7, 1876, at only 29-years-old. Bell is also credited with developing one of the early versions of a metal detector. Additionally, he co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) in 1885. March was also his birth month, with his birth date being March 3, 1847. Source: History.com
11.) C – The Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. The battle, fought between February 23,1836, and March 6, 1836, resulted in a Mexican Victory. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops reclaimed the Alamo Mission near what’s now called San Antonio. Nearly all the 200 Texan defenders, including frontiersman Davy Crockett, died. Source: History.com
