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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. What was Washington's demeanor during the time his portrait was painted?

2. How many children did Washington and Martha have of their own?

3. Which office did Washington run for and win?

4. What did Washington do with a copy of the Declaration of Independence when it arrived when he was in New York with his troops?

5. Who was George Washington's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What financial responsibility did Washington have for his stepchildren for the rest of his life?

2. How was Washington's slave population impacted when he married Martha and how did he view himself as a slave owner?

3. Which two women were important in Washington's personal life as a young adult?

4. Why was Washington so humble when accepting the role as leader of the Continental Army?

5. How did the lack of a formal education impact Washington's feelings about himself throughout his life?

6. What difficult issues did Washington face regarding his stepchildren during this period?

7. Why did Washington find himself deeply in debt because of the reliance on imported British goods?

8. What did Washington get involved with as a member of the House of Burgesses during this period of time?

9. Why did some people not support Washington's attempts to defend them and secure independence for them?

10. How did Washington become leader of the Continental Army and what were his immediate challenges?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in rural Virginia in the mid-18th century. What precedents did they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions did they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have? What belief system about Southern women was evident in Martha Washington? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the impact that Washington's childhood had on him as an adult. What did it mean to be the son of a prominent man in 18th century Virginia? What impact did his father's death have on Washington? What stigmas did Washington live with for his entire life?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the significance of the book's title. What does the author mean by calling it simply WASHINGTON: A LIFE? What was he trying to emphasize with this emphatic style? Suggest three alternate titles for this book with supporting rationale for each one.

(see the answer keys)

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