Martin Luther King Jr. Day History Quiz

1. What does MLK Day honor?

A. Civil War veterans
B. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy
C. The end of segregation
D. Voting rights laws

2. When is MLK Day observed?

A. January 1
B. Third Monday in January
C. January 20
D. Last Monday in January

3. In what year was MLK Day signed into law?

A. 1968
B. 1975
C. 1983
D. 1990

4. Which U.S. president signed MLK Day into law?

A. Jimmy Carter
B. Ronald Reagan
C. George H. W. Bush
D. Richard Nixon

5. In what year was MLK Day first observed?

A. 1983
B. 1984
C. 1985
D. 1986

6. What was Dr. King best known for advocating?

A. Armed resistance
B. Nonviolent protest
C. Political office
D. Military reform

7. Where was Dr. King born?

A. Atlanta, Georgia
B. Memphis, Tennessee
C. Birmingham, Alabama
D. Montgomery, Alabama

8. Which famous speech did MLK deliver in 1963?

A. Freedom Now
B. I Have a Dream
C. Equality Today
D. Justice for All

9. Where was the “I Have a Dream” speech delivered?

A. White House
B. Lincoln Memorial
C. U.S. Capitol
D. Selma Bridge

10. MLK Day is also considered a day of:

A. Celebration
B. Service
C. Protest
D. Reflection only

11. MLK Day is a federal holiday.

A. True
B. False

12. All states recognized MLK Day immediately.

A. True
B. False

13. MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize.

A. True
B. False

14. MLK Day always falls on January 15.

A. True
B. False

15. MLK was assassinated in Memphis.

A. True
B. False

16. In what year was Dr. King assassinated?

A. 1963
B. 1965
C. 1968
D. 1971

17. MLK led which civil rights organization?

A. NAACP
B. SCLC
C. CORE
D. SNCC

18. MLK Day promotes which key value?

A. Equality
B. Justice
C. Service
D. All of the above

19. When did all 50 states officially recognize MLK Day?

A. 1986
B. 1993
C. 2000
D. 2005

20. MLK Day encourages Americans to:

A. Volunteer
B. Reflect on justice
C. Serve their communities
D. All of the above