Then try imagining all of your audience are squirrels. Add absurd imaginary clothing if needed (lime polka-dot cravats with lavender petticoats, for instance).
If you were their history teacher, you need to do a better job on the instruction. If you are just quizzing random kids about a history fact to prove how dumb kids these days are, I have questions. Starting with whether the kids you are asking have covered the war of 1812 in school yet, continuing to whether they think you must be asking a trick question, and ending with why you think asking random kids about a random bit of history is a meaningful gauge of anything.
From the National Park Service web site: “Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father.” A private society started building it in 1848, but work stalled due to lack of funds by 1854. In 1876, Congress passed a joint resolution to have the Army Corps of Engineers finish the half-completed monument.
It is time for the server to say “may I suggest our special today…”