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Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Now to our 10-question New York and New Jersey history 101 quiz. Alan in Brooklyn, ready to play? Hi, Alan.

Alan: Good morning, thanks. I'm getting off speaker.

Brian Lehrer: Okay. Question 1. Europeans first made contact with Indigenous people of New York and New Jersey after which Italian explorer landed in the New York Bay in 1524. Which Italian explorer first made contact with the Indigenous people here? I have a hint if you need it. It's not Columbus, and there's a major bridge in the city named after him.

Alan: Verrazano.

Brian Lehrer: It is Giovanni da Verrazzano. Question 2 for the hat or the pro-democracy tote. There were three main Indigenous tribes native to the New York and New Jersey area who would have been present at the time of Verrazzano's arrival. These are all tribes you've no doubt heard of. Can you name anyone?

Alan: The Lenape.

Brian Lehrer: Yes, the Lenape. Also, the Iroquois and the Algonquian were in this area as well. Do you want the baseball cap or the pro-democracy tote?

Alan: Well, I've got two of your caps already, so I think I'll go with this tote.

Brian Lehrer: Alan, thank you for your loyalty, I guess I should say. Thanks for playing. You are a winner. Let's go next to Natasha in Ridgewood. Ridgewood Queens or Ridgewood New Jersey, Natasha?

Natasha: Hi. It's Ridgewood, Queens.

Brian Lehrer: Okay, here we go. Question 3. What did the Dutch call New York before the colony was purchased by England?

Natasha: Let's see. Was it New Amsterdam?

Brian Lehrer: New Amsterdam is right. Question 4 for The Brian Lehrer Show baseball cap or The Brian Lehrer Show pro-democracy tote. In the Revolutionary War, a battle that took place in upstate New York, about 30 miles north of Albany, is seen as the turning point for the rebels in their fight for independence. Where was it? Now, there's a big outdoor performing arts center there. There's a racetrack there. Where was this turning point battle?

Natasha: Oh, my gosh. Oh, no. I love history. Can I get a hint? Oh, is it Saratoga?

Brian Lehrer: It is Saratoga. It was the Battle of Saratoga. What gave it to you? Was it the racetrack?

Natasha: Yes, it was the racetrack. I was like, "Wait, he did give me a hint."

[laughter]

Brian Lehrer: Do you want the baseball cap or the pro-democracy tote?

Natasha: Oh, my gosh, I never win anything. This is so great. I'll take a tote, please.

Brian Lehrer: Hang on, and we will take your address. Joshua in White Plains, ready to play? Hi, Joshua.

Joshua: Good morning.

Brian Lehrer: Question 5. The famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr took place in which state? New York or New Jersey? For extra credit, do you know why, but you only need which state?

Joshua: I have no idea. I'm going to guess New Jersey.

Brian Lehrer: About a 50-50 shot there. You got it right. The reason was that dueling was illegal in New York. I did not know that until I read that prepping for this quiz. Okay, Question 6 for the hat or the pro-democracy tote. Who's the only New Jersey native to serve as president of the United States? Hint, elected in 1884 and again in 1892?

Joshua: I know it's not Rutherford, but that's the answer I'm going to give.

Brian Lehrer: Because he's not from Rutherford, New Jersey. I don't know where in New Jersey he was from, but I gave you one hint. I'll give you a part two of that same hint. 1884 and again in 1892. He's the only president other than Trump to be elected in that pattern.

Joshua: I have no idea. Let me just give a guess. Go ahead. Who was it?

Brian Lehrer: It was Grover--

Joshua: I'll say Grant.

Brian Lehrer: No, it was Grover Cleveland because he was elected, then he was not elected. Then he was elected again after skipping a term. Okay, thanks for giving it a shot. Sorry, you didn't win. Let's go to Jonah in Chelsea. Hi, Jonah. Ready to play?

Jonah: Yes, you bet.

Brian Lehrer: Question 7. There have been five presidents native to New York state. Can you name any two?

Jonah: Yes. How about Roosevelt and Roosevelt?

Brian Lehrer: Roosevelt and Roosevelt would be right, in addition to Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, and Donald Trump. Question 8 for the cap or the pro-democracy tote. Which famous inventor first opened a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey in 1876? Now, there's a Jersey town around there named after him. Who's that inventor?

Jonah: Yes, there's great Indian ice cream there in Edison, New Jersey. That would be Thomas Edison.

Brian Lehrer: That would be Edison. Do you want the baseball cap or the pro-democracy tote?

Jonah: I would love a baseball cap. Thank you.

Brian Lehrer: Jonah, hang on. We will take your address. Ed in Jackson Heights, you're on WNYC. Hi, Ed. Ready to play?

Ed: Hi, Brian.

Brian Lehrer: Question 9. The famous theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, this is a little segue out of Thomas Edison, is German-born but set up his residence and lived his US life in which state? New York or New Jersey?

Ed: New Jersey.

Brian Lehrer: That's true about Einstein. Moved to Princeton in 1935, lived there for the remaining 20 years of his life. Question 10 for the baseball cap or the pro-democracy tote. On January 1st, 1898, the city of Brooklyn ceased to exist. Why?

Ed: Because it merged with the city of New York.

Brian Lehrer: That is exactly right. It joined Manhattan, which I think at that time was the city of New York, as well as Queens and the Bronx and Staten Island to form the modern-day city. For some after that, little footnote to history, the merger was known derisively in Brooklyn as the Great Mistake, as it went from a city of its own to merely an outer borough. I'm glad you won that in Jackson Heights. Ed, we'll take your address off the air and see which prize you won. All right. That's our 10-question quiz for today. We'll do another one on Monday. Brian Lehrer on WNYC. More to come today.

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