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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was so strange about Henry Clay's enlisting Webster in his cause for compromise?
(a) Clay had always opposed Webster in the Senate before.
(b) Clay was a republican and Webster was an independent.
(c) Clay was from the South and Webster was from the North.
(d) Webster had given many speeches opposing Henry Clay.

2. What occurred during a duel that gave Benton a reputation as something of a thug?
(a) He rigged the other pistol so it wouldn't fire.
(b) He killed a U. S. District Attorney.
(c) He had a sniper actually shoot the opponent.
(d) He threw down his gun and beat the man with his fists.

3. Who was the first son of a former president to become president of the U.S.?
(a) Andrew Jefferson.
(b) John Quincey Adams.
(c) Geroge Washington Carver.
(d) Thomas Alva Edison.

4. What was one argument Webster made for compromising on the question of slavery?
(a) Slavery would eventually dry up because there were fewer traders.
(b) World opinion would eventually settle the question.
(c) If the Union divided, slavery might even become stronger in the Southern states.
(d) Northerns would be able to have slaves legally.

5. What is the irony of Houston's defending the Northerner's rights to abolition?
(a) Houston was a slave to the Cherokee.
(b) Houston disliked all Yankees.
(c) Houston opposed slavery except in the South.
(d) Houston owned slaves himself.

6. What issue caused Benton finally to begin losing popularity in Missouri?
(a) The Missouri voters became ashamed of Benton's rough behavior.
(b) The Missouri voters felt allied to the South but Benton supported the Union.
(c) Benton had too many duels.
(d) Benton refused to own slaves.

7. What were Benton's most effective weapons as a fighter?
(a) Wit and sarcasm.
(b) Friends and relatives.
(c) Guns and canons.
(d) Knives and bull whips.

8. What was the dichotomy concerning John Quincey Adams' father?
(a) Adams had raised his son to do what he believed to be right and that meant opposing his father.
(b) Adams was not religious but his son, John Quincey, was a devout Puritan.
(c) Adams raised his son to always do as his father did regardless of what he thought personally.
(d) Adams was a stern father but a political liberal.

9. What was it about Benton that inspired the approval of his Missouri constituency?
(a) He was also very popular among his party members.
(b) He arranged a lot of pork barrel spending in Missouri.
(c) He took young Congressmen under his wing.
(d) He did not care about political pressures and did what he thought was right.

10. What view did Webster take that made him unpopular with abolitionists?
(a) He was a strong supporter of the Union and believed compromise on slavery was more important than breaking up the nation.
(b) He would not address the subject of slavery because he though it would just go away.
(c) He did not feel that being a part of a Union that allowed slavery in some territories a viable alternative.
(d) He refused to argue against salvery when he went to the Southern states.

11. Although thought of as a crazy politician, what did John F. Kennedy see as a mark of courage in the man?
(a) He would do what he thought was right regardless of his party or his popularity.
(b) He would do whatever was necessary to get re-elected.
(c) He would stand up in the Senate without a gun.
(d) His stance on big government over states' rights.

12. What leader who was at odds with Adams' father did John Quincey find himself agreeing with quite often?
(a) Thomas Jefferson.
(b) Benjamin Franklin.
(c) Alexander Hamilton.
(d) George Washington.

13. Where did Houston say he wanted it written that he loved his country, he was a patriot, and he was devoted to the Union.
(a) On the face of the Texas capitol building.
(b) In the Dallas Herald.
(c) In the latest history books.
(d) On his tombstone.

14. What do the subject of PROFILES IN COURAGE all have in common?
(a) They all served as U. S. Senators.
(b) They were all Republicans.
(c) They were all Democrats.
(d) They all lost elections and then won them the next time.

15. Why was Webster a leader in the North prior to the Civil War?
(a) He knew all the words in the dictionary.
(b) He could out talk his opponents.
(c) He was older than any other politician.
(d) He had strong views against slavery.

Short Answer Questions

1. In spite of John Quincey Adams' clarity and political courage, what life-long need did he have?

2. How did Benton urge support for expansion to the West?

3. Besides appearing to be disloyal to his father when he aligned himself with Jefferson's politics, what other problem arose for John Quincey Adams?

4. What is a constant that an elected official must understand?

5. What does Kennedy see as Webster's moral flaw?

(see the answer keys)

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