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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. For what conflict does Kennedy feel the most empathy?
(a) The conflict between political parties.
(b) The conflict of constituency interest versus national interests.
(c) The conflict of special interests versus constituency interests.
(d) The conflict between Congress and the Supreme Court.

2. For what prestigious university did Adams once work as a professor?
(a) Princeton.
(b) Yale.
(c) Harvard.
(d) Dartmouth.

3. What effect did Webster's three-hour-long speech in the Senate have in 1850?
(a) It rallied the North to declare war on the South.
(b) It made many political allies for Webster.
(c) It helped hold off the Civil War for a good ten years.
(d) It gave the South the idea of secession.

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

5. What Webster speech in the Senate became known by the date it was given?
(a) The Independence Day speech.
(b) The Christmas Day speech.
(c) The Seventh of March speech.
(d) The First of January speech.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who said that courage is grace under pressure?

2. What was Benton's characteristic that early on made his constituents love him?

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

4. In a speech, how did Houston justify his right to deliver an address in a Texas town where he had been turned away from the courthouse?

5. In addition to being the first Senator from Missouri, what other first did Benton achieve?

Short Essay Questions

1. What interesting historical distinction did Adams and his father share in regards to their Presidencies?

2. What surprising victory did Houston win after being dismissed from the Senate?

3. Was Houston able to prevent Texas from seceding from the Union?

4. How does the book reflect John Kennedy's admiration for certain former U.S. Senators?

5. What does Kennedy identify as a difficult situation after a candidate is voted into the senate?

6. Relate two important firsts for Senator Thomas Hart Benton.

7. Aside from being Senator from Massachusetts, what was Daniel Webster known for?

8. What does Kennedy have to say about political organizations that have the time and resources to mount letter writing campaigns?

9. What does Kennedy point out as interesting about letter John Quincey wrote at ages nine and forty-five?

10. Relate how Benton survived an attempt on his life by another senator.

(see the answer keys)

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