When in the course of celebrating America’s 233rd anniversary of its independence, readers are invited to test their knowledge of events that led to this weekend’s festivities. Enjoy.

1. July 4th celebrates American independence. What nation did we break away from?

a. France

b. Great Britain

c. Spain

d. Canada

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2. Where was the Declaration adopted and signed?

a. Philadelphia

b. Boston

c. New York

d. Washington, D.C.

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3. How many people signed the Declaration of Independence?

a. 13

b. 26

c. 56

d. 52

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4. What crime were the signers committing when they adopted the declaration?

a. Inciting a mob

b. Treason

c. Publishing without a license.

d. Failing to consult voters

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5. Thomas Jefferson is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence. But he had help. Which of these people was NOT on the writing committee?

a. John Adams

b. George Washington

c. Roger Sherman

d. Robert R. Livingston

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6. Who was the first of the delegates to the Continental Congress to sign the Declaration of Independence?

a. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts

b. John Witherspoon of New Jersey

c. John Hancock of Massachusetts

d. Francis Lightfoot Lee of Virginia

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7. Here’s a hard one: Two members of the Continental Congress voted to declare independence on July 4 but ultimately declined to sign the Declaration of Independence. Identify the two. One of them will surprise you.

a John Dickinson

b. William Whipple

c. Carter Braxton

d. Robert R. Livingston

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8. The movie “National Treasure” suggests that the back of the Declaration of Independence contains some secret writing. What’s actually on the back of the document?

a. Plans for conducting war against Great Britain

b. The words: “Original Declaration of Independence / dated 4th July 1776.”

c. More signatures

d. Nothing. It’s blank.

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9. The Declaration of Independence contains some of the most soaring rhetoric of our nation’s history. But lofty statements of principals — such as the “all men are created equal” clause — are only a small portion of it. What’s the bulk of it consist of?

a. A warning that the colonists were losing patience with King George

b. A plea for self-governance and democracy

c. A pledge among the signers to stick together

d. A list of grievances against the King.

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10. Signing the Declaration was only the beginning of the fight to win American independence. How many years did it take to secure that independence?

a. Six years

B. 10 years

c. 13 years

d. 20 years

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11. Time for local history. When did Longview’s first semi-official Independence Day fireworks show take place?

A. 1923

B. 1949

C. 1900

D. 1964

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12. For years, “Rolleo” timber sports competitions were held at Lake Sacajawea, often in connection with Independence Day. When was the first one held?

A. 1928

B. 1973

C. 1980

D. 1968

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13. Who is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world champion log roller?

A. Chuck Norris

B. Chuck Brown

C. Chuck Mangione

D. Chuck Harris

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14. It took a long time for the Go 4th Festival to resemble today’s elaborate, three-day spree. What year brought the makings of the festival we know today?

a. 1943

b. 1960

c. 1973

D. 1980

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15. Lake Sacajawea is the focal point of Go 4th. Before Longview was established, what was the water body called?

a. Hudson’s Creek

b. Fowler’s Slough

c. Cowlitz Channel

d. Slaughter’s Bar

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16. How tall are the new high-climbing poles put in at Lake Sacajawea last week for the timbersports competition?

a. 55 feet

b. 90 feet

c. 110 feet

d. 75 feet

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17. The Monticello Convention, signed on the present site of the city of Longview in November 1852, sought to carve a separate Washington Territory out of Oregon Territory. To whom was it addressed?

a. President Millard Filmore

b. Queen Victoria of England

c. Congress

d. President Thomas Jefferson

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18. Delegates to the Monticello Convention proposed a name for the new territory. What was it? (Hint: It was not “Washington.”)

a. Lewis and Clark Territory

b. Columbia Territory

c. La-La land

d. Cascade Territory

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19. Washington was admitted to the Union on Nov. 11, 1889. With Washington’s admission, the United States then had how many states?

a. 39

b. 25

c. 42

d. 46

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20. Cowlitz County was created in 1854 when a much larger county was divided up. Which county was that?

a. Lewis County

b. Clark County

c. Thurston County

d. Lewis and Clark County

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