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Founding & Early History of Oswego, IL Quiz
The founding of Oswego, Illinois occurred at the time that the United States was really beginning to become an empire, to set its sights on the vast, unknown frontiers to the west, and to set out to claim them. Oswego, for its part was one of the many settlements to arise during this expansion, and the founding of this town touches some of massive historical events that any student in this U.S. education system will likely learn about. Take this quiz to see how much you know not only about Oswego's founding, but also its place in early U.S. history.
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Last updated: November 21, 2023
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| First submitted | November 21, 2023 |
| Times taken | 6 |
| Average score | 50.0% | Report this quiz | Report |
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1. What year did the first settlers arrive in what is now Oswego, IL, and where did they arrive from?
1833; Ohio
1832; Indiana
1829; Virginia
1846; West Virginia
2. The first people to settle in what would become Oswego were a family of four siblings (Daniel, John, Rebecca, and Walter), the Daniel's wife Sarah, and Rebecca's husband William Smith. What were Daniel, John, Walter, & Sarah's last name and William & Rebecca's last name?
Pearce and Wilson
Wilson and Pearce
Pierce and Jefferson
Hannah and Barbara
3. What was one of the major reasons Oswego was settled?
Agriculture; the soil in the area was abnormally high in potassium, making it an ideal place to grow crops.
Commerce; the Fox River made it an excellent location to trade with the local Indigenous tribes.
Transportation; a natural, smooth-bottom ford exists in the Fox river near the mouth of Waubonsie Creek, making it easy to cross.
Solitude; the land was settled by a family of hermits who wanted to get as far away from people as possible.
4. In 1835, a pair of businessmen arrived and laid out the village of Oswego. What were the names of these businessmen?
Timothy Garfield & David Wickerson
Henry F. Wilson & James L. Brinsmaid
Lewis Brinsmaid Judson & Levi F. Arnold
Phineas T. Barnum & James Anthony Bailey
5. When did Illinois become a State?
December 3, 1818
November 4, 1819
July 24, 1830
May 3, 1824
6. Which Native American tribes lived in the region when Oswego was first settled by Americans?
The Cherokee, Mohawk, & Potowatomi
The Sauk, Oswego, & Chippewa
The Sauk, Ottawa, & Oswego
The Potowatomi, Ottawa, & Chippewa
7. During the Black Hawk War in 1832, which Tribe fought on the side of the U.S. in the hope of preventing or delaying their removal from their land?
The Ottawa
The Potowatomi
The Mohawk
The Sauk
8. What was Oswego's original name? When the U.S. government set up the first post office there, what was the name misattributed to the settlement?
Ottawa; Modi
Hudson; Lodi
Fordville; Linston
Modi; Ortego
9. Who was Oswego's first postmaster?
Levi F. Arnold
Timothy Garfield
Decoalia Towle
William Lumpkin
10. When did the people of Oswego vote to name their town Oswego?
1832
1837
1885
1985
11. What year was the Indian Removal Act passed?
1830
1832
1838
1839
12. Which President passed the Indian Removal Act?
John Adams
Andrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
John Quincy Adams
Elton John
13. True or false: The relocation of Native Americans directed by the Indian Removal Act was intended to be optional, and any Native Americans who did not leave their land were intended to become citizens of the new state they lived in.
True
False
14. Many Native Americans from the Chicago area and elsewhere were forced off their land in the wake of Indian Removal Act and moved west of the Mississippi river. What is this mass forced migration commonly known as?
The Exodus of Evil
The Underground Railroad
The Journey of Sorrow
The Trail of Tears
15. Where can many descendants of Native Tribes from the Oswego area be found to today?
A reservation in Iowa
A reservation in Missouri
A reservation in Kansas
No one place, they've been dispersed across the country.
16. In 1837, approximately how many buildings were there in Oswego?
10
30
60
Over 100
17. In 1841, a new county was established by taking 6 townships from LaSalle county (NaAuSay, Kendall, Fox, Big Grove, Steward, & Lisbon) and 3 townships from Kane county (Bristol, Little Rock, & Oswego). What is the name of the new county that was created?
Oswego County
Fox County
Kendall County
Carlson County
18. What year did Oswego become the County Seat?
1839
1840
1842
1845
19. What natural substance found in abundance in Oswego was used in the construction of many early pieces of Oswego architecture and eventually became a major export of the city?
Iron
Granite
Limestone
Copper
20. In 1859, which city replaced Oswego as the county seat?
Yorkville
Plano
Sandwich
Pasta
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Anon. A Clash of Cultures | The American Experience in the Classroom. https://americanexperience.si.edu/historical-eras/expansion/pair-pigeons-egg-head-speculator/.
Anon. Ottawas. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/938.html.
Anon. Potawatomi History | Milwaukee Public Museum.
Anon. Black Hawk War. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/141.html.
Anon. Early Statehood, 1818-1848 - visit. https://dnrhistoric.illinois.gov/experience/early-statehood.html#:~:text=On%20December%203%2C%201818%2C%20Illinois,and%20rapidly%20developing%20agricultural%20state.
Harrington, Mark. 2020. Two New Businesses Coming to Oswego. WSPY News. https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wspynews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/56/75642b54-15f4-11eb-805c-878f5cf12934/5f941dfd1158b.image.jpg?resize=990%2C743.
Little White School Museum. 2020. Oswego Timeline - Little White School Museum. Little White School Museum - Oswegoland Park District. 25. August. https://littlewhiteschoolmuseum.org/learn/historic-oswego/oswego-timeline/.
Matile, Roger. History. Village of Oswego, IL. https://www.oswegoil.org/residents/about-oswego/history#:~:text=William%20Smith%20Wilson%20and%20his,to%20their%20claims%20in%201833. (accessed: 14. November 2023).
Q1: Little White School Museum
Q2: LWSM
Q3: Matile
Q4: Matile
Q5: Anon, "Early Statehood"
Q6: Matile
Q7: Anon, "Potawatomi History"
Q8: LWSM; Matile
Q9: Matile
Q10: LWSM; Matile
Q11: Anon, "A Clash of Cultures"
Q12: Anon, "A Clash of Cultures"
Q13: Anon, "A Clash of Cultures"
Q14: Anon, "A Clash of Cultures"
Q15: Anon, "Ottawas"
Q16: Matile
Q17: LWSM
Q18: LWSM
Q20: LWSM