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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. The year was 1862, and Grant was serving as the Commander of the District of __________________.

2. Grant's devotion to the U.S. was ______________________.

3. The author says, "Few today think of Hitler as a soldier. But it was as a soldier, quite as much as a politician or ____________ - the strangest of his delusions - that he thought of himself" (p. 235).

4. Grant received a bit of notoriety after a stint where?

5. Keegan compares West Point to the British ____________________ located in Woolwich and France's École de Génie at Mezières.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Grant's military philosophy?

2. How does Grant's opinion of the progress of war compare to that of the other leaders mentioned? Why?

3. How did the attack on Fort Sumter affect Grant? Why?

4. Why might Grant not have wanted to surrender? What does this reveal about him?

5. Why is Chapter Six, "Hitler in Command", possibly the most important chapter in this book?

6. Who was Clausewitz? How was he misunderstood by Hitler?

7. How was Hitler affected by World War I?

8. What was the myth regarding Hitler's war-time lodgings? Was this myth true?

9. Why was World War I called "the" war?

10. How was Hitler helped in his plan to destroy Poland?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Fame and prestige often accompanied military success.

Part 1) Describe the fame and prestige of the military leaders described in this book. Why did military success carry such worth?

Part 2) Do you believe that fame and prestige influenced these leaders? Why or why not? Do you believe it played a role in recruiting and encouraging men to join the military? Explain.

Part 3) Is fame and prestige still connected to the military and successful military pursuits? Why or why not? What do you think of when you think of the U.S. military? Is this a true image or one that comes from government propaganda?

Essay Topic 2

The leaders discussed in this book had a wide range of upbringings.

Part 1) Choose four men to analyze. Describe each man's upbringing. Compare these upbringings. How did their upbringings affect their personalities, strategies, and beliefs?

Part 2) Despite having varying upbringings, the leaders in this book had several similarities and common traits. What are these commonalities? Are these traits required by all leaders? Why or why not?

Part 3) Regarding nurture versus nature, do you feel that either the way you were raised or your own genetics has a stronger influence over your personality, interests, and beliefs? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The author believes it is not desirable for a leader to storm in and take command, at least not without the acceptance of his or her people.

Part 1) Do you agree with him? Why or why not? Did citizens in the past want their leaders to take control? Why or why not?

Part 2) Why does the author believe the view of the leader should change in the nuclear age? If it were not the nuclear age, does the author believe there would be nothing wrong with a leader coming in and taking charge? Explain.

Part 3) Do you believe that by listening to the citizens, a leader could make better decisions regarding the nation as a whole? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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