- 1. Thirty Years As A Slave And Four Years In The White House is a poignant autobiography authored by the former slave, Charles Ball, who recounts his harrowing experiences as a slave in the antebellum South and his subsequent life in the White House during the post-Civil War era. In this compelling narrative, Ball provides an unflinching account of the brutal realities of slavery, describing the inhumane treatment, the struggle for dignity, and the yearning for freedom that characterized his early life. His vivid storytelling not only captures the physical and psychological toll of slavery but also highlights the resilience and courage of those who endured it. After escaping the bonds of slavery, Ball's experiences in the White House during a time of significant change in America offer readers a unique perspective on the political landscape and the fight for civil rights following the Emancipation Proclamation. Through his journey, Ball eloquently articulates the complexities of freedom, identity, and the quest for equality, making his work a significant contribution to American literature and history. The book serves as both a personal testament and a historical document, ensuring that the voices of those who suffered under slavery are heard and remembered.
Who wrote 'Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House'?
A) Frederick Douglass
B) Elizabeth Keckley
C) Mary Todd Lincoln
D) Harriet Tubman
- 2. What was Elizabeth Keckley's profession?
A) Nurse
B) Journalist
C) Seamstress and dressmaker
D) Teacher
- 3. For which First Lady did Keckley primarily work in the White House?
A) Julia Grant
B) Dolley Madison
C) Abigail Adams
D) Mary Todd Lincoln
- 4. What was the name of the organization Keckley founded to aid newly freed people?
A) The Contraband Relief Association
B) The Underground Railroad
C) The Freedmen's Bureau
D) The American Red Cross
- 5. A major controversy surrounding the book's publication involved:
A) The revealing of private conversations with Mary Todd Lincoln
B) Support for the Confederacy
C) Accusations of plagiarism
D) Fabricated stories about the President
- 6. Besides Mary Todd Lincoln, Keckley's clientele included wives of:
A) Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Johnson
B) Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists
C) Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis
D) John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators
- 7. Keckley was born into slavery in which state?
A) South Carolina
B) Georgia
C) Maryland
D) Virginia
- 8. The publication of the book ultimately had what effect on Keckley's career?
A) It damaged her reputation and business
B) It earned her a political appointment
C) It had little to no effect
D) It made her a wealthy best-selling author
- 9. Keckley's memoir is considered an important example of:
A) War journalism
B) Slave narrative literature
C) Fashion history
D) Presidential biography
- 10. What personal tragedy did Keckley and Mary Todd Lincoln share?
A) Imprisonment during the war
B) Bankruptcy
C) The loss of a son
D) The loss of a husband in the war
- 11. After the White House, Keckley taught sewing and domestic arts at:
A) Hampton Institute
B) Wilberforce University
C) Oberlin College
D) Howard University
- 12. How did Keckley originally become enslaved?
A) She was born into slavery.
B) She was sold by her family.
C) She was captured in Africa.
D) She was a prisoner of war.
- 13. What tragic event happened to Keckley's son, George?
A) He was sold away from her.
B) He was killed in the Civil War.
C) He disappeared and was never found.
D) He died of illness as a child.
- 14. What was the 'contraband' referred to in the Contraband Relief Association?
A) Confederate military plans
B) Illegal goods smuggled from the South
C) Abolitionist literature
D) Escaped enslaved people classified as property
- 15. What personal item of Mary Todd Lincoln's did Keckley famously save?
A) Willie Lincoln's toys
B) Lincoln's blood-stained gloves from the assassination
C) The original Emancipation Proclamation
D) Her wedding ring
- 16. Keckley's son served in the Union Army during the Civil War. What was his name?
A) George
B) Robert
C) Thomas
D) William
- 17. What term does Keckley use to describe the enslaved people who fled to Union lines?
A) Fugitives
B) Contrabands
C) Refugees
D) Freedmen
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