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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 do the Republicans want Lincoln to nominate as a candidate for president instead of himself?

2. David Herold is told to watch for Lincoln's movements and _____________________.

3. Which of the following is NOT a topic of conversation at Kate Chase's party?

4. Which of the following does NOT describe Lincoln's physical presence at this point in the war?

5. Which of the following does NOT apply to General Grant?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the rebel spies think that Herold has succeeded in poisoning Lincoln at the time he delivers the Gettysburg Address?

2. What are the circumstances of David Herold meeting John Wilkes Booth?

3. On what day does Part 2 begin and what are the two major issues facing Lincoln and his cabinet members?

4. What name is the Republican party known as at the Baltimore convention and what are Lincoln's views of the convention?

5. Why do the conspirators want to ramp up efforts to kill Lincoln prior to the election of 1864?

6. Why does Sprague get involved in getting cotton past blockades and into New England?

7. How do the Lincolns respond when their young son, Willie, dies?

8. How does Seward attempt to prevent Mrs. Lincoln being involved in a scandal?

9. What is the speculation of Mrs. Lincoln's involvement in President Lincoln's speech to Congress being printed in the New York Herald?

10. Why does Lincoln find humor in the rumor that McClellan may wage a military coup against him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of men in the 1860s when the men in the story are living through wartime. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century men do not?

Essay Topic 2

Thomas Paine wrote that "These are the times that try men's souls." Despite being written during the times of the Revolutionary War, the statement still held true for those enduring the Civil War. Explain how the times tried the souls of Lincoln and his Cabinet and military officers. How did the times try the souls of civilians? How about slaves? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What is the point of view of the story? Why did Vidal choose to write the story from this perspective? What are the benefits and the limitations to this particular point of view?

(see the answer keys)

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