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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Webster's constituents view his stand on compromise with the slave states?
(a) They were proud of their native son.
(b) They supported him wholeheartedly.
(c) They thought he should run for President.
(d) It drew their wrath.

2. Why did Thomas Hart Benton get the nickname of Old Bullion?
(a) His greed for money.
(b) His gold plated sign on his office door.
(c) His silver mines in Missouri.
(d) His advocacy for hard currency.

3. What metaphoric comparison does Kennedy make to John Quincey Adams' Puritanism?
(a) Kennedy's Catholicism.
(b) A conflict of interests.
(c) A mighty ship in a storm.
(d) The east coast, craggy, rocky, somber and strong.

4. How did Benton urge support for expansion to the West?
(a) He pushed a measure giving extra benefits to leaders of wagon trains.
(b) He voted to give tax breaks to manufacturers of wagons.
(c) He made a Congressional junket to Oregon.
(d) He supported communications methods such as the telegraph, the Pony Express and roadways that ran into the country.

5. How does Kennedy assess the failure of both Adams presidencies to produce second terms?
(a) An unwillingness to compromise on mundane matters of politics.
(b) Personalities that clased with everyone not of their religion.
(c) Unwillingness to campaign for a second term in office.
(d) Poor choices for their cabinet members.

6. Why was Webster not bothered by what many would consider as bribes?
(a) He never let that happen to him.
(b) The moral question of accepting money and gifts for Webster was not an issue for him.
(c) He accepted money and gifts but always did only what he thought was right.
(d) He felt he was entitled to extra benefits for his service to the Union.

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

8. To what does Kennedy ascribe as half the power of Webster?
(a) His handsomeand commanding appearance.
(b) His outstanding education.
(c) His ability to make friends easily.
(d) His political connections.

9. Why was John Quincey Adams generally unhappy?
(a) He never felt he had accomplished enough.
(b) He never married his childhood sweetheart.
(c) He never traveled abroad.
(d) He never couold live up to his mother's expectations.

10. What does Kennedy identify as the second pressure that prevents courageous deeds by elected officials.
(a) The need to get more education.
(b) The need to publish a book.
(c) The need to get re-elected.
(d) The need to travel the world.

11. Who suggested that Senators were vulgar demagogues?
(a) A preacher.
(b) A cabinet member.
(c) A reporter.
(d) An ambassador.

12. What does Kennedy suggest prevents a lot of people from acting courageously?
(a) Fear of the unknown.
(b) Averice and greed.
(c) Social and public pressures.
(d) Not enough education about courage.

13. What advantage did John Quincey Adams have as a politician?
(a) Ignorance of the Washington politics.
(b) More education than experience.
(c) More money than anyone else.
(d) The confidence of coming from a strong political family.

14. What is an irony of Benton's opposition to the slave states?
(a) He owned slaves himself.
(b) He opposed abolition.
(c) He was a descendent of a slave.
(d) He refused to go against his own party.

15. In addition to being the first Senator from Missouri, what other first did Benton achieve?
(a) First politician to support Martin Van Buren.
(b) First Senator to serve 30 years in the Senate.
(c) First politician to have a duel.
(d) First Senator to change political parties.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is another difficult situation for an elected official besides the interests of the nation and those of the constituency?

2. What was the dichotomy concerning John Quincey Adams' father?

3. Although thought of as a crazy politician, what did John F. Kennedy see as a mark of courage in the man?

4. What is the first pressure of Americans that keeps them from acting courageously according to Kennedy?

5. Where did Houston say he wanted it written that he loved his country, he was a patriot, and he was devoted to the Union.

(see the answer keys)

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