America At 250: Can You Pass This 1912 Eighth Grade Examination?

 

 "Too few of our K-12 schools, colleges, and universities teach real history or
 civics any longer. We fret constantly about our falling math and reading scores,
and we should. But a nation that does not teach successive generations about the
differences between capitalism, socialism, and fascism, or about the horrifying
carnage of Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Ho Chi Minh, Hoxha, Ceausescu, and
Tito, or about the basics of personal finance and business, is a nation defenseless
against the pull of fantasy ideology.  We can do better."-Impris

 

 

Skulls of Khmer Rouge Victims
Image courtesy/Wikipedia

 I still remember seeing a very similar photograph of human skulls in
 my freshman year world history book in high school.  The haunting
 image of the remains of the victims of the infamous Khmer Rouge, 
 or the Communist Party of Cambodia's "Killing Fields" was a
chilling reminder that Communism is an evil system, which,
over the course of the 20th century, murdered millions of
innocent people while enslaving millions more.

Growing up in  freedom in America, in the age of the "Reagan Revolution"
 the threat of Communism influencing or taking over this nation seemed
  almost nonexistent for the members of my generation.  

Despite the popularity of the original 1984 film, "Red Dawn"
about a Soviet-led invasion of America which ignites World War III,
like other action dramas at the time, it was considered "just a movie." 

Now, some 40 years later, the influence of the insidious, anti-American,
"Red-Green Alliance" or Communist wolves disguised as Social Democrats,
 paired up with the adherents of radical Islam, so popular with many of
the young generations of Americans, some of whom will be first time voters,
 is increasing at an alarming rate.

   If future generations are to remain a free and independent people, America must
do better.  This starts with education-especially of our nation's unique history, the
 workings of civil government, and geography-being re-introduced in the classroom.

President Reagan once said, "How do you tell a Communist? Well, it's someone
 who reads Marx and Lenin. And how to you tell an anti-Communist?
It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin." 

  Sample Questions from the Eighth Grade Examination for Bullitt County
(Kentucky) Schools, November 1912

Note: "This is the knowledge once expected of 13 and 14 year olds, most of whom
 were, with this exam, finishing their education and embarking on adulthood.
Look at the questions young Americans were able to answer-especially those in
geography, civil government, and history."-Impris 

 

Civil Government:

1. Define the following forms of government: Democracy, Limited Monarchy, 
Absolute Monarchy, Republic. Give examples of each.

2. Give three duties of the President. What is meant by veto power?

3. Name three rights given Congress by the Constitution and two denied Congress.

4. Give the eligibility of president, vice-president, and governor of Kentucky.

5. Describe the manner in which the president and the vice-president 
of the United States are elected.

Geography:

1. Locate Erie Canal; what waters does it connect, and why is it important?

2. Locate the following countries which border each other: Turkey, Greece, Servia, (Serbia)
 Montenegro, Roumania (Romania) 

3. Name and give the capitals of States touching the Ohio River

4. Locate the following mountains: Blue Ridge, Himalaya, Andes, Alps, Wasatch

5: Through what waters would a vessel pass in going from England through
 the Suez Canal to Manila?

History:

1. Who first discovered the following places: Florida, Pacific Ocean, Mississippi River, 
St. Lawrence River?

2. By whom were the following settled: Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida

3: During what wars were the following battles fought: Brandywine, Great Meadows,
 Lundy's Lane, Antietam, Buena Vista.

4. Name two presidents who have died in office: three who were assassinated.

5. Name the last battle of the Civil War; War of 1812; French and Indian War;
 and the commanders in each battle.

Source: 
Bullitt County History Museum Website

Post information source:
 Impris Newsletter October, 2026 
A Publication of Hillsdale College