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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who did Richmond Hill once belong to?

2. How does Helen convince Mrs. Townsend to let her live with Charlie?

3. Who did Burr fight and kill in a duel?

4. What does Publius support?

5. How does Charlie justify his trip to Mrs. Rosanna Townsend's brothel?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the role that yellow fever plays in the book.

2. What does Charlie find out during the wedding of Burr to Madame Jumel?

3. When does Burr first meet James Madison, and what are the circumstances?

4. Describe the accounting of Burr and Hamilton's duel that Burr gives when Leggett presses him for details.

5. Describe what happens after Alexander Hamilton has an affair with Mrs. James Reynolds?

6. Describe the different ways that Washington and others believe that he should be addressed. Explain any reasoning behind these titles.

7. What powers do the Alien and Sedition Acts give the government?

8. Describe the events surrounding the trial of Levi Weeks.

9. Describe the meeting that Charlie and Matt Davis have at the City Hotel.

10. How do Charlie and Helen persuade Mrs. Townsend to allow Helen to leave the brothel, and how does Charlie feel about her presence when she first starts living with him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay in which you explore the writing techniques used by Gore Vidal. How does he communicate history? What effect does this have on the reader?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay exploring the idea of matchmaking, such as Burr getting Dolley and James Madison together, as a metaphor for political matchmaking or appointments.

Essay Topic 3

There are many familial connections throughout the novel. Write an essay defining the role of family in the novel.

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This section contains 956 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample