The History Question

Teacher: Johnnie, who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Little Johnnie: I don’t know, and I didn’t do it!

Little Johnnie jokes are a classic genre of humor centered around a mischievous, sharp-witted, and often cheeky schoolboy named Little Johnnie. These jokes typically involve:

• A classroom or family setting, often with teachers or parents.
• Unexpected punchlines, usually clever, naughty, or hilariously inappropriate (though many versions are clean).
• A child’s perspective on adult situations, creating ironic or exaggerated humor.
• Wordplay or literal interpretations of adult language.

Example Traits of Little Johnnie Jokes:

• He often says what adults are thinking but wouldn’t say out loud.
• He misunderstands on purpose—or pretends to.
• He’s blunt, brutally honest, or sarcastically witty.

Why They’re Popular:

• They play on the contrast between childlike innocence and adult themes.
• They’re often short, punchy, and easy to remember.
• The humor is in Johnnie’s boldness and how he outsmarts adults with surprising logic.