View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. A forty year old captain of the 18th Massachusetts wrote his wife in August 1862 that he'd rather fight for years than for his sons to continue it. In what battle was he killed four months later?
(a) Shiloh.
(b) Malvern Hill.
(c) Bull Run.
(d) Fredericksburg.

2. In the discussion of the psychological and physiological issues soldiers faced in 1864, a private in the 100th Pennsylvania wrote that he slept one night out of how many?
(a) 25.
(b) 14.
(c) 8.
(d) 19.

3. From which state was the major whose letter home during the summer of 1862 contained the line "slavery must be cleaned out," from which the title of the chapter was inspired?
(a) Wisconsin.
(b) Tennessee.
(c) Ohio.
(d) Massachusetts.

4. During the discussion of the hardships for soldiers' wives, how many married men does McPherson say voluntarily enlisted to fight the war?
(a) 100,000.
(b) 300,000.
(c) 800,000.
(d) 60,000.

5. When discussing the hardships of soldiers' wives, McPherson says that failure to fight for one's country would be seen to dishonor all BUT WHICH of the following?
(a) Children.
(b) Wife.
(c) Ancestors.
(d) Posterity.

6. While discussing differing interpretations of liberty from North and South, McPherson quotes a Texas cavalryman with Forrest who wrote that the issue was all BUT WHICH of these?
(a) Elimination.
(b) Slavery.
(c) Subjugation.
(d) Confiscation.

7. An Illinois cavalryman, who wrote a letter home on January 12, 1865, used the word "duty" how many times in a single sentence?
(a) 3.
(b) 8.
(c) 5.
(d) 4.

8. In the discussion of a Louisiana cavalry sergeant who'd been the headmaster of a boys' school prior to enlisting, by what battle does the soldier cite Yankee hatred as his reason to fight?
(a) Pleasant Hill.
(b) Vicksburg.
(c) Belmont.
(d) Mesilla.

9. After discussing Civil War soldiers' convictions, what commodity does McPherson say was most sought-after in camp, second to letters from home?
(a) Socks.
(b) Newspapers.
(c) Bandages.
(d) Chewing gum.

10. After the battle of Antietam a soldier in the 21st Mississippi wrote his parents that he wanted to collect what Yankee body part for his sister, Anna?
(a) Ear lobes.
(b) Fingernails.
(c) Scalps.
(d) Bones.

11. Which individual was one of the highest-ranking Jewish officials during the war, who denounced the Emancipation Proclamation to his wife in January 1863?
(a) Captain Clement L. Vallandigham.
(b) Colonel Marcus Speigel.
(c) General James Vernon.
(d) Private Chauncey Welton.

12. In "Chapter 8: The Cause of Liberty," which immigrant group drew the clearest parallels between the fight for the Union and the fight for liberty in their home country?
(a) German Americans.
(b) Irish Americans.
(c) Italian Americans.
(d) Russian Americans.

13. When a sergeant in the 8th Georgia wrote to his family in 1863 that he would willingly sacrifice his life upon the altar of his country, readers learn that he did so in which battle?
(a) Second Manassas.
(b) Shiloh.
(c) Bull Run.
(d) Gettysburg.

14. As "Chapter 10: We Know That We are Supported at Home" opens, which of the following is NOT one of the main sources of combat motivation?
(a) Courage.
(b) Self-respect.
(c) Patriotism.
(d) Group cohesion.

15. While talking about the difficulties wives left behind faced, McPherson mentions a sergeant in the 21st Ohio whose wife had written that "your country's cause is my cause." What was her name?
(a) Minie.
(b) MaryAnn.
(c) Elizabeth.
(d) Jenny.

Short Answer Questions

1. After discussing how the language of soldiers in letters home is cliche today, McPherson says that which writer noted that World War I made words like "glory" mock-heroic?

2. In the discussion of the hardships for soldiers' wives, what percentage of officers does McPherson say were married in his sample?

3. In the discussion of combat stress reaction, readers learn that this phenomenon was most common during which year of the Civil War?

4. Which soldier in the 103rd Ohio denounced the Emancipation Proclamation in letters to family from January to March of 1863?

5. When McPherson says that Confederates sought to preserve their honor by killing black soldiers who tried to surrender, which place is NOT a documented occurrence of massacres?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 632 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample