Tennessee History Quiz

Which boundaries make up the east and west borders of West Tennessee?

• Cumberland Plateau

• Mississippi River

• Tennessee River

• Cumberland River

"Tana-tsee," the name of our state, derives from an old Yuchi phrase that means

• Land where the red man dwells

• The Promised Land of milk and honey

• Home of the black bear and elk

• Land where the rivers come together

Christopher Columbus was a courageous European explorer who accomplished what?

• He opened the door of European exploration to the New World.

• He searched in vain for El Dorado, the legendary city of gold.

• He was the first explorer to discover the Mississippi River.

• He conquered the Aztec Empire by capturing Chief Montezuma at Tenochtitlan.

Which of the following important Tennessee historic sites remains the site of ancient Mississippians in Memphis, TN?

• Old Stone Fort

• Chucalissa Indian Village

• Pinson Mounds

• Coats-Hines Site

Which of the Historic Indian Tribes were the most likely to learn English, cut their hair, and dress in European fashions?

• Cherokee

• Creek

• Shawnee

• Chickasaw

Which word best describes the actions of the Native Americans in Question #9?

• Formation

• Assimilation

• Integration

• Segregation

What was the main purpose of the Old Stone Fort in Coffee County, Tennessee?

• To act as a “sacred space” for special ceremonies, like the summer solstice

• To construct important buildings atop the mounds

• To serve as sacred burial places for the dead

• To provide a “living space” for the most important tribesmen

In the Mississippian tradition, what was constructed atop “earthen platform” mounds?

• Wide plazas for the community

• Temples and important houses

• Burial plots for the dead

• Primitive marketplaces

Which ancient indigenous civilization was most known for their advances in pottery, increased reliance on crops, and were the first to construct mounds?

• Woodlands

• Archaic

• Mississippian

• Paleo-Indian

What was the main purpose of the Pinson Mounds in Madison County, Tennessee?

• To act as a “sacred space” for special ceremonies, like the summer solstice

• To construct important buildings atop the mounds

• To serve as sacred burial places for the dead

• To provide a “living space” for the most important tribesmen