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Here's some Hamilton trivia for the trivia lover in you! I've written plenty of trivia articles before, including music trivia, American history trivia, and so much more.
Whether you're a theatergoer, lover of all things Broadway, or just passionate about musicals, these thought-provoking trivia questions will surely impress.
So, let's dive into some Hamilton questions and answers!
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Hamilton Questions And Answers: The Ultimate Musical Quiz
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Hamilton: An American Musical is a musical adaptation of Alexander Hamilton's book and is composed by American playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda.
It follows the long and trial-filled life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, from his unfortunate beginning to his tragic death at the hands of his former friend. Its story told through its use of rap and hip-hop tells us all about Hamilton's convictions in a fun and exciting way without detracting from its historical roots.
So, why not quiz people on music and American history with these brain teasers about Hamilton?
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6 Best Hamilton Questions To Add In Your Musical Trivia Pub Quiz
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These quiz questions will teach you about the musical, its source material, and American history, all in one - perfect for asking your friends about during Hamilton quiz night!
1. What age was Hamilton when he came to the American colonies?
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16
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Hamilton was 16 years 0ld when he first arrived in New York City. After being denied entry to Princeton, he'd left for North America to pursue his education. Here, he'd meet people who would soon change his life forever.
2. Who played Burr in the original Broadway production?
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Answer
Leslie Odom Jr.
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The role of Aaron Burr went to Leslie Odom Jr., an American actor. In the musical, Burr is one of the main antagonists Hamilton faces. Their fierce and heated rivalry is one of the main plots in the musical, coming to the forefront in the second act.
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3. What does Aaron Burr advise Hamilton upon first meeting?
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Talk Less, Smile More
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Talk less, smile more, said Burr to a young Hamilton looking to follow in his footsteps. The young Hamilton was full of bravado, so this poignant statement taught him about the value of sheathing his sword - but it couldn't entirely douse the fire in his heart!
4. Who are Hamilton's friends?
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Marquis de Lafayette, John Laurens, and Hercules Mulligan
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Hamilton would make several friends during his life in America, including Hercules Mulligan, Marquis de Lafayette, and John Laurens.
Hercules Mulligan, an Irish-born tailor, shared lodgings with the young Hamilton and sold some cargo to pay for his education.
Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat, and John Laurens, American statesman, met young Hamilton and later joined him under George Washington.
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5. What song outlines Hamilton's belief in himself and his desires for his life in America?
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My Shot
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"My Shot" is a song about Hamilton's character and goals and ambitions for himself. Just like his people, he's young, scrappy, and hungry - and he won't throw away his shot! He'll fight for his peoples' freedom and independence!
6. What are the names of the Schuyler sisters shown in the musical?
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Angelica, Elizabeth, and Peggy.
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There are three: Angelica Schuyler, the eldest; Elizabeth Schuyler, known as Eliza; and finally, Peggy Schuyler, the youngest. Angelica and Eliza both had feelings for Hamilton in his youth, but only Eliza would marry him and become Eliza Hamilton later on.
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6 Easy To Answer Questions About Hamilton The Broadway Musical
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These easy questions about the musical may be simple, but they're perfect for testing your friends' knowledge. Challenge them on their understanding of the musical and sprinkle in some more questions about American history!
7. Who becomes the American President after George Washington?
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John Adams
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Here's a bit of presidential trivia: John Adams is a fierce political rival to Hamilton himself! After beating out Hamilton for the position of first Vice President, he fired Hamilton from being part of the Treasury. He later became the second President of the United States, winning over Hamilton again.
8. Alexander Hamilton's face is on a US banknote. Which one?
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$10
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This one is pretty easy - you see his face on the $10 bill all the time! It might catch your friends unawares, though.
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9. Where was Lin Manuel Miranda on vacation when he read historian Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton that inspired Miranda to write about the Founding Father?
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Mexico
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Many people don't know that Lin-Manuel Miranda first read Hamilton's biography during a trip to Mexico! What sort of dramatic music can you make while relaxing at a beach?
10. Who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804?
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Aaron Burr
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This question tests your knowledge of famous events in history! Did you also know that despite firing, Hamilton missed his shot?
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11. Who plays the role of John Laurens in Hamilton?
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Anthony Ramos
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Anthony Ramos plays the role of both John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the musical. Both characters are very dear to Hamilton, one as a lifelong friend and his son.
12. Who did Hamilton have an affair with?
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Maria Reynolds
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Jasmine Cephas Jones played Maria Reynolds in the musical. The affair between Maria and Hamilton, made infamous by the Reynolds Affair, was unveiled by Hamilton to mislay allegations of his embezzlement.
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5 Fun Quiz Questions Perfect For A Hamilton Game Night
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Questions for quiz night don't have to be just intellectually stimulating - they can also be fun questions to ask! These fun quiz questions have entertaining answers that are perfect for including in your quiz.
13. What book inspired "Hamilton: An American Musical?"
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"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow
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Ron Chernow's Hamilton biography tickled the mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who would go on to write a musical adapted off the book. Ron Chernow himself would become a historical advisor for the Hamilton musical, helping Miranda write it!
14. How long did it take Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the first two songs of the musical?
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Two Years
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After reading Ron Chernow's Hamilton biography in 2008, it would take Miranda two whole years to write the first two songs! The third song, "My Shot" took over a year to write by itself. The musical itself would not make its debut until five years later, in 2015.
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15. How many Tony Awards did "Hamilton: An American Musical" Win in 2016?
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11
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Hamilton won 11 Tony awards at the 70th Tony Awards and had a record-breaking 16 nominations!
16. How many words are in the script of "Hamilton: An American Musical?"
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20, 520
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Hamilton has a total of 20,520 words in its script! The song "Non-Stop" has the most words at 1239 words, while the least is "Best of Wives and Best of Women" at 75 words.
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17. Which newspaper was founded by Alexander Hamilton?
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The New York Post
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The New York Evening Post, now named the New York Post, was established by Hamilton in 1801. Newspaper publications were important political engines, as articles about important political figures were published and could make or break their campaign.
5 Iconic Hamilton Music Trivia You Need To Know
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These iconic musical questions and answers are a must for any diehard musical fan. Do you know enough about the musical to answer this trivia?
18. Which song in "Hamilton" has a section that is the fastest sung song on Broadway?
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Guns and Ships
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Guns and Ships currently holds the record for the fastest Broadway rap. At its fastest, it can go at a swift 6.3 words per second!
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19. When did the musical open on Broadway?
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August 6, 2015
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Hamilton, the musical, opened up in the Richard Rogers Theatre on Broadway on August 6, 2015. However, its actual premiere was on Off-Broadway on February 17, 2015!
20. Hamilton was the recipient of the 2016 Grammy Award for what?
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Best Musical Theater Album.
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The cast album version of the musical won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2016. Later, in 2019, it became the best-selling cast album of all time after being certified eight times by the RIAA!
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21. Which song in "Hamilton" features musical salutes to The Beatles?
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You'll Be Back.
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Here's some Beatles trivia: "You'll Be Back" contains many musical allusions and similar riffs to classic Beatles tracks. Miranda stated that the guitar riff is inspired by the 1970's "Getting Better"!
22. What are the songs that King George sings by himself?
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You'll Be Back, What Comes Next, I Know Him.
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King George III is a relatively minor character in the musical, but he gets three whole songs sung entirely by himself: You'll Be Back, What Comes Next, and I Know Him. These songs are about his confidence in his rule and that the Revolution the colonists hold so dear won't come to pass.
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4 Hardest Hamilton Quiz You'll Ever Try
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Only the most diehard Hamilton fans know the answers to these hard Hamilton questions! Don't worry, though - we've got you covered. We've got some difficult questions that thoroughly test your trivia chops!
23. Where is Alexander Hamilton buried?
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Trinity Church Cemetery
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After succumbing to his wound inflicted by Aaron Burr, Hamilton was buried in the Trinity Church Cemetery. Hamilton's funeral had a two miles long procession, sending off their beloved Founding Father in a parade that took hours to complete.
24. The previous Off-Broadway production of Hamilton won the 2015 Drama Desk Award for what?
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Outstanding Musical.
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The first production of Hamilton premiered in Off-Broadway, and won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, alongside seven others!
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25. Who had done a play of Hamilton's story on Broadway in what year?
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1917
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A play was written in 1917 about Alexander Hamilton, written by Mary P. Hamlin and George Arliss. It tells the story of Hamilton's struggles to create a financial structure for the United States.
26. According to Act Two of the musical, why did Aaron Burr challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel?.
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Answer
Hamilton supported Jefferson in the Election of 1800 and not Burr
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Despite Hamilton's intense dislike of Thomas Jefferson and his former friendship with Aaron Burr, Hamilton sided with Jefferson, ending a deadlock in the presidential voting. Thomas Jefferson then became the next President of the United States. Aaron, furious, then challenged Hamilton to a duel, becoming a famous event in American history.
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Downloadable List of Facts About Hamilton
Here is a downloadable list of Hamilton facts (right-click the image and select Save Image As...):
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Importance of Knowing Musical Facts: Benefits of Trivia Games
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Trivia isn't just about learning random things. Trivia promotes a deeper understanding of the finer details surrounding a subject. Adapting it into a game-like form fosters interest in the subject matter, making it both fun to learn and entertaining for all those involved. The benefits of puzzling quizzes are easily felt at the end: do you know more now than you did before?
Speaking of musical trivia also helps aspiring music artists and fans understand what goes into making them. In the case of Hamilton, Miranda's dedication to writing it, spanning almost a decade of work, shows us that making something truly great requires dedication. Learning about the little-known details about the musical is good for the brain and good for those looking to follow the journey from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Now that you've learned quite a bit about Hamilton, here are some frequently asked questions regarding making the quiz itself! Here are my thoughts if you need some pointers regarding who to make this for.
Who can participate in trivia games about Hamilton?
Of course, any American history fans and music fans can participate, but you can anyone interested enough to join in! For the best results, try and see if any of your friends love rap especially.
What would be the perfect team name for a Hamilton Pub Quiz night?
There could be plenty! One possibility is The New York Post, after the newspaper of the same name that Hamilton created. Another would be The Revolutionaries, as many of the main cast members fought in the American revolution. The Founding Fathers could also be a good pick! Anything related to these will add a layer of immersion to your quiz night.
How Could You Include A Picture Round During A Pub Quiz?
One way you could do this is by trying to see if people can recognize the faces of famous people - Hamilton, of course, and his friends Lafayette, Mulligan, and Laurens, or people like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr.
I Am A Teacher. Which Age Bracket Should I Use "Hamilton: The American Musical" Quiz Game?
This game is good for students at the middle school level or higher to remember important trivia facts about American history better. Still, anyone who loves music and rap could certainly be quizzed about the musical! For the best results, I recommend having the students watch the musical first to remember what they can remember.
Is It Good To Have A Hamilton-based Trivia Game During The Day Or Night?
Personally, it doesn't matter at what time of the day the game happens. Still, many key scenes in the musical occur at night, so it would probably work well with a quiz game!
More Awesome Quiz Questions and Answers
If you love what this article is about, how about trying at some more trivia we've written?
- Do you love music and the arts? Why not try learning more about art through trivia.
- Enjoy learning more about the world? Then this geography trivia might interest you!
- And to top it all off, see if you can answer some 80's movie trivia!
In Conclusion
Hamilton is one of the most fun and immersive ways to learn more about American history. Equal parts about music and equal parts about the history of one of our Founding Fathers, Hamilton is one of the better ways to keep those who love one or the other hooked. If you have the time, I highly recommend giving it a listen.
See if you can make your own quiz game about Hamilton!
