View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who suggested that the US take military action against Cuba for America's safety, not knowing about the missiles?

2. Who presented the United States case to the United Nations?

3. After the announcement to the nation, how often would Ex Comm meet?

4. What is SAM an acronym for?

5. Who said that Russia only wanted to "give bread to Cuba in order to prevent hunger in that country" (34)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What personal insights does RFK provide about JFK when they are waiting for news about the first ships meant to reach the blockade?

2. How and where did Adlai Stevenson present the photographic evidence of missiles in Cuba?

3. Which countries immediately supported the U.S. in the decision for a blockade? Why did JFK favor a blockade over a surgical air strike?

4. After the blockade takes effect, RFK meets with Dobrynin again. What do they discuss?

5. What was one argument against a blockade?

6. Why does RFK slip the President a note saying "I now know how Tojo felt when he was planning Pearl Harbor" (25)? How do the situations compare?

7. What information did the Intelligence Community have about the missiles in September, but did not inform the President about at that time? Why were they not passed on?

8. When was Congress told, and how did Congress react to the news of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

9. What did Adlai Stevenson suggest was a third option for the President to consider? Why was it rejected?

10. What distinguishes Thirteen Days as a memoir (besides the subtitle) and not just an autobiography?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Checks and Balances are built into the Constitution to protect the people from tyranny and to prevent an abuse of power. Congress was furious that JFK did not consult with them before making his military decision. In an essay, determine whether or not the checks and balance work.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay examining the importance of peer evaluation. Develop an argument that is either for using groups or against it. Was the group effort successfully used for Ex Comm? Why or why not? What lesson can be learned from this?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the powers of Congress and the Presidency using the JFK administration in Thirteen Days as a primary example.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,329 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample