ThatQuiz Test Library Take this test now
Presidency of George Washington
Contributed by: Neal
  • 1. When was George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the United States?
A) July 4, 1776
B) March 4, 1789
C) April 30, 1789
D) January 20, 1789
  • 2. Who served as Vice President during George Washington's presidency?
A) James Madison
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) John Adams
D) Alexander Hamilton
  • 3. Which city served as the temporary capital of the United States while Washington D.C. was being built during Washington's presidency?
A) Boston
B) Baltimore
C) Philadelphia
D) New York City
  • 4. Which significant event marked the start of George Washington's presidency?
A) Inauguration
B) Tea Act
C) Stamp Act Congress
D) Boston Tea Party
  • 5. What was the name of George Washington's plantation home in Virginia?
A) Mount Vernon
B) Monticello
C) Montpelier
D) The Hermitage
  • 6. Which act signed by George Washington established a system for admitting new states to the Union?
A) Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
B) Hatch Act
C) Pendleton Act
D) Northwest Ordinance
  • 7. Which treaty with Great Britain settled disputes over pre-Revolutionary War debts and established a trading relationship?
A) Treaty of Paris
B) Louisiana Purchase Treaty
C) Oregon Treaty
D) Jay Treaty
  • 8. Who was the French general who supported the Americans during the Revolutionary War and became a key figure in Washington's presidency?
A) Robespierre
B) Napoleon Bonaparte
C) Marquis de Lafayette
D) Talleyrand
  • 9. Who was George Washington's wife?
A) Martha Washington
B) Abigail Adams
C) Dolley Madison
D) Elizabeth Monroe
  • 10. Which cabinet position did Thomas Jefferson hold during George Washington's presidency?
A) Secretary of the Treasury
B) Secretary of War
C) Attorney General
D) Secretary of State
  • 11. Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington's administration?
A) Alexander Hamilton
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) James Madison
D) Albert Gallatin
  • 12. In which battle did George Washington famously cross the Delaware River to surprise Hessian troops?
A) Battle of Saratoga
B) Battle of Germantown
C) Battle of Monmouth
D) Battle of Trenton
  • 13. How many electoral votes did George Washington receive in his first election?
A) 69
B) 34
C) 73
D) 55
  • 14. Which document established the framework for electing the president and vice president?
A) The Articles of Confederation
B) The U.S. Constitution
C) The Declaration of Independence
D) The Bill of Rights
  • 15. Who urged George Washington to accept the presidency in a letter?
A) John Adams
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) Gouverneur Morris
D) James Madison
  • 16. What was George Washington's stance on political parties during his presidency?
A) He actively promoted partisanship.
B) He supported the Democratic-Republican Party.
C) He was not formally affiliated with any party and struggled to hold rival factions together.
D) He founded the Federalist Party.
  • 17. What was the purpose of the Proclamation of Neutrality issued by Washington?
A) To support the French Revolution.
B) To establish trade agreements with Britain.
C) To declare war on France.
D) To maintain peace with European powers during the French Revolutionary Wars.
  • 18. What was the significance of the Tariff of 1789?
A) It established free trade agreements with France.
B) It abolished all tariffs on imported goods.
C) It funded the government and addressed the trade imbalance with Britain.
D) It imposed taxes on domestic products.
  • 19. What was George Washington's reaction to being elected president?
A) He enthusiastically embraced the position without hesitation.
B) He expressed reluctance and inexperience but accepted the role.
C) He immediately declined the presidency.
D) He postponed his decision indefinitely.
  • 20. Which rebellion did Washington personally lead federalized soldiers to suppress?
A) The Whiskey Rebellion
B) Pontiac's Rebellion
C) Bacon's Rebellion
D) Shays' Rebellion
  • 21. What was the purpose of re-establishing the United States Navy in 1794?
A) To support French naval operations.
B) To engage in naval warfare with Britain.
C) To protect American shipping from Barbary pirates and other threats.
D) To explore new territories for colonization.
  • 22. What was the outcome of Washington's election by the Electoral College in 1788–1789?
A) He withdrew his candidacy before the vote.
B) He lost to John Adams.
C) The election resulted in a tie.
D) He was elected unanimously as the first president.
  • 23. What did Washington express in his first inaugural address?
A) His intention to serve more than two terms.
B) His desire to expand the U.S. territory.
C) Reluctance to accept the presidency and inexperience with civil administration duties.
D) His plan to abolish political parties.
  • 24. What was the main concern Washington had about political parties during his presidency?
A) He wanted to establish a third party.
B) He believed they were essential for democracy.
C) He feared they would harm national unity.
D) He thought they should control Congress.
  • 25. What was the role of the Electoral College in Washington's election?
A) They selected the vice president directly.
B) They elected him unanimously as the first president.
C) They determined state boundaries.
D) They voted on constitutional amendments.
  • 26. What was Washington's reaction to receiving letters urging him to accept the presidency?
A) He refused all offers without consideration.
B) He immediately agreed to become president.
C) He asked for a delay in decision-making.
D) He expressed a desire for others to pursue ambition and fame, but eventually accepted.
  • 27. Who administered the presidential oath of office to George Washington in 1789?
A) William Cushing
B) Chancellor Robert Livingston
C) George Clinton
D) John Langdon
  • 28. Where was George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the United States?
A) Federal Hall in New York City
B) Congress Hall in Philadelphia
C) Independence Hall in Philadelphia
D) The White House in Washington, D.C.
  • 29. Which Bible was used during George Washington's inauguration ceremony?
A) St. John's Lodge No. 1, Ancient York Masons
B) An Episcopal Church Bible
C) The King James Bible from the Library of Congress
D) A family Bible from Mount Vernon
  • 30. What book and verse was opened at random during George Washington's inauguration?
A) Psalm 23:1
B) Genesis 49:13
C) Exodus 20:12
D) John 3:16
  • 31. What did George Washington add to the presidential oath of office in 1789?
A) The Pledge of Allegiance
B) A prayer for guidance
C) An invocation to the Constitution
D) "so help me God"
  • 32. How many electoral votes did George Washington receive in the 1792 election?
A) 50
B) 77
C) 132
D) 4
  • 33. Who administered the presidential oath of office to Washington during his second inauguration?
A) "Supreme Court associate justice William Cushing"
B) George Clinton
C) Chancellor Robert Livingston
D) John Langdon
  • 34. How many words were in George Washington's second inaugural address?
A) 500
B) 300
C) 135
D) 200
  • 35. When was John Adams sworn into office for his second term as vice president?
A) January 20, 1797
B) April 30, 1789
C) "December 2, 1793"
D) March 4, 1793
  • 36. Who was the first Secretary of State under George Washington?
A) Alexander Hamilton
B) John Jay
C) Edmund Randolph
D) Thomas Jefferson
  • 37. Which department was initially proposed but its duties were incorporated into the State Department?
A) Department of War
B) Department of Treasury
C) Finance Office
D) Home Department
  • 38. Which cabinet member was replaced by William Bradford as attorney general in 1794?
A) Alexander Hamilton
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) Henry Knox
D) Edmund Randolph
  • 39. Who succeeded Henry Knox as Secretary of War?
A) Oliver Wolcott Jr.
B) Timothy Pickering
C) Charles Lee
D) John Jay
  • 40. Who was George Washington's chief legal adviser?
A) Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton
B) Attorney General Edmund Randolph
C) Postmaster General
D) Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson
  • 41. Who replaced Timothy Pickering as Secretary of War?
A) James McHenry
B) Edmund Randolph
C) Oliver Wolcott Jr.
D) Charles Lee
  • 42. How many tie-breaking votes did John Adams cast during his vice-presidential terms?
A) 42
B) 10
C) 29
D) 15
  • 43. What was John Adams' opinion about his vice-presidential role?
A) "Highly significant and influential"
B) "A position of great power"
C) "Perfectly suited to his character"
D) "Complete insignificance"
  • 44. How frequently did George Washington seek John Adams' counsel during cabinet meetings?
A) Never
B) Always
C) Frequently
D) Infrequently
  • 45. How did Americans and foreign visitors frequently address George Washington in practice?
A) "Your Excellency"
B) "His Highness"
C) "Protector of Their Liberties"
D) "Mr. President"
  • 46. What was the annual salary of George Washington as president?
A) $25,000
B) $5,000
C) $10,000
D) $50,000
  • 47. Who wrote the Judiciary Act of 1789 primarily?
A) George Washington
B) James Wilson
C) Oliver Ellsworth
D) John Jay
  • 48. How many associate justices did George Washington initially nominate on September 24, 1789?
A) Five
B) Six
C) Four
D) Seven
  • 49. How many judges did George Washington appoint to the federal district courts during his presidency?
A) 38
B) 50
C) 45
D) 25
  • 50. How many Supreme Court Justices did the Judiciary Act of 1789 establish?
A) Nine
B) Six
C) Seven
D) Five
  • 51. Who was responsible for remodeling New York City's old City Hall to become Federal Hall?
A) Alexander Hamilton
B) James Madison
C) George Washington
D) Pierre L'Enfant
  • 52. Which report recommended protective tariffs and federally supervised infrastructure projects?
A) The Report on Manufactures
B) The First Report on Public Credit
C) The Collection Act of 1789
D) The Coinage Act of 1792
  • 53. Which report proposed federal assumption of state debt?
A) The Coinage Act of 1792
B) The Report on Manufactures
C) The Report on the Public Credit
D) The Second Report on Public Credit
  • 54. What was the size of the militia force commanded by Washington during the Whiskey Rebellion?
A) 12,950 men
B) 50,000 men
C) 5,000 men
D) 20,000 men
  • 55. What did some social reformers hope the excise tax on spirits would achieve?
A) Discourage alcohol consumption.
B) Promote the use of imported spirits over domestic ones.
C) Encourage farmers to switch from grain to other crops.
D) Increase government revenue from alcohol sales.
  • 56. What did the Distilled Spirits Duties Act become commonly known as?
A) The Liquor Control Act
B) The Alcohol Regulation Act
C) The 'Whiskey Act'
D) The Spirit Tax Law
  • 57. Which political faction did Hamilton align with?
A) Anti-Federalists
B) Democratic-Republicans
C) Whigs
D) Federalists
  • 58. Who were the strongest supporters of the Democratic-Republican Party in the South?
A) Wealthy Southern slaveowners
B) Federalists
C) New England merchants
D) Northern artisans and farmers
  • 59. How many of the original 12 proposed amendments were ratified by December 15, 1791?
A) 6
B) 10
C) 8
D) 12
  • 60. When was the Eleventh Amendment ratified?
A) December 15, 1791
B) September 25, 1789
C) February 7, 1795
D) March 4, 1794
  • 61. Which society engaged in a lobbying campaign to abolish slavery in 1790?
A) The Pennsylvania Abolition Society
B) The Southern Congressmen's Society
C) The Federalist Society
D) The Anti-Federalist Society
  • 62. What precedent was set by congressional leaders regarding discussions on slavery?
A) Slavery was expanded to new territories
B) Slavery became a federal crime
C) Congress generally avoided discussing slavery
D) Slavery was abolished during Washington's administration
  • 63. What major event occurred on September 21, 1792, in France?
A) The execution of King Louis XVI
B) France declared itself a republic
C) The end of the Reign of Terror
D) The start of the War of the First Coalition
  • 64. Who was guillotined on January 21, 1793?
A) Charles Henri Hector, Count of Estaing
B) Marquis de Lafayette
C) King Louis XVI
D) Thomas Paine
  • 65. What did Washington threaten against Americans assisting warring countries?
A) Exile from the United States.
B) Legal proceedings.
C) Immediate imprisonment without trial.
D) Confiscation of all personal property.
  • 66. What was Hamilton's pseudonym when defending the Proclamation of Neutrality?
A) Cato.
B) Pacificus.
C) Brutus.
D) Publius.
  • 67. Which territory did Georgia refer to when claiming lands west of the Appalachian Mountains?
A) Spanish Florida
B) British Louisiana
C) Mississippi Territory
D) Yazoo lands
  • 68. What did Congress organize on April 7, 1798, following Pinckney's Treaty?
A) Spanish Florida
B) Louisiana Purchase
C) The Yazoo lands
D) The Mississippi Territory
  • 69. How many executive mansions did George Washington live in during his presidency?
A) Two
B) Four
C) Three
D) One
  • 70. Where did George Washington begin his Southern tour on March 20, 1791?
A) Sailing down the Severn River
B) At Mount Vernon
C) In Richmond, Virginia
D) In Charleston, South Carolina
  • 71. Which state was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1791?
A) Kentucky
B) Tennessee
C) North Carolina
D) Vermont
  • 72. Which state was the last to join the Union during Washington's presidency?
A) Vermont
B) Kentucky
C) Tennessee
D) North Carolina
  • 73. When was Washington's Farewell Address first published?
A) January 1, 1789
B) December 25, 1800
C) September 19, 1796
D) July 4, 1776
  • 74. Which candidate actively campaigned during the 1796 presidential election?
A) John Adams
B) Thomas Pinckney
C) Aaron Burr
D) Thomas Jefferson
  • 75. How many electoral votes did John Adams receive in the 1796 election?
A) 30
B) 59
C) 71
D) 68
  • 76. How many electoral votes did Thomas Pinckney receive in the 1796 election?
A) 30
B) 68
C) 71
D) 59
  • 77. Which historian ranked George Washington second in their poll conducted in 1948?
A) Ron Chernow
B) Stephen Knott
C) Arthur M. Schlesinger Sr.
D) Forrest McDonald
  • 78. In which year did the C-SPAN survey rank Washington as the second greatest president?
A) 1996
B) 1948
C) 2024
D) 2017
  • 79. How many books have been written about George Washington according to the text?
A) 1000
B) 500
C) 800
D) More than 900
  • 80. What did Ron Chernow consider George Washington's presidency to be?
A) Simply breathtaking
B) A failure due to partisan battles
C) Lacking in achievements
D) Moderately successful
  • 81. Which of the following did Washington NOT establish during his presidency according to Ron Chernow?
A) A mint
B) A coast guard
C) A bank
D) An air force
  • 82. Which institution did Washington create to regulate commerce?
A) A postal service
B) A space agency
C) A customs service
D) An air force
Created with That Quiz — where a math practice test is always one click away.