We asked Plant Citians the following trivia questions to test their American history and military knowledge.
What’s your favorite way to spend the Fourth of July?
Who do you think Uncle Sam is?
How much money do you think the government spends on the military?
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Which branch of the military is the largest?
Art Wood, 72
“We enjoy cooking out with neighbors, friends and family if they’re available.”
Uncle Sam?
"I think it stands for the U.S. government."
How much do we spend?
"I have no idea."
Declaration of Independence?
"It’s attributed to Thomas Jefferson but a number of people were involved."
Largest Military Branch?
"I would think the Army is the largest branch of the military."
John Beckner, 36
“Blowing things up with friends.”
Uncle Sam?
"I think Uncle Sam is big government.”
How much do we spend?
"Way too much."
Declaration of Independence?
"Our founding fathers."
Largest Military Branch?
"That would be the Army."
Edgar DeJesus, 28
“My favorite way to celebrate the Fourth of July is probably, there’s no better way than with family.”
Uncle Sam?
"Uncle Sam was a propaganda tool used to get people to join the military."
How much do we spend?
"Way too much, trillions of dollars."
Declaration of Independence?
"John Hancock signed it but as far as who wrote it I don’t know, I forget."
Largest Military Branch?
"I would assume it’s the Army."
Maria Hensley, 54
“Our family loves to go to the Brandon Parade, the Fourth of July parade.”
Uncle Sam?
"I think he was like a promotion they came up with to encourage people to join the military, so they said, ‘Uncle Sam wants you,’ and they made him wear white, red and blue."
How much do we spend?
"I’m sure it’s billions. I’m going to say $8 billion."
Declaration of Independence?
"Thomas Jefferson."
Largest Military Branch?
"I think it’s the Army."
Answers:
Who do you think Uncle Sam is?
The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812. The barrels were stamped “U.S.” and soldiers began to refer to the food as “Uncle Sam’s.” In the late 1860s and 1870s a political cartoonist began popularizing the image and gave him the stars and stripes outfit. Another artist expanded the image of him and during World War I, this portrait of Sam with the words “I Want You For The U.S. Army” was used as a recruiting poster, according to History.com.
How much money do you think the government spends on the military?
In 2015, the U.S. had a declared military and defense budget of $601 billion, which is more than the next seven highest-spending countries combined, according to Business Insider.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson.
Which branch of the military is the largest?
The Army.