- 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 The book serves as both a personal testament and a historical document, ensuring that the voices of those who suffered under slavery are heard and remembered.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) Teacher
B) Journalist
C) Nurse
D) Seamstress and dressmaker
- 3. For which First Lady did Keckley primarily work in the White House?
A) Dolley Madison
B) Mary Todd Lincoln
C) Abigail Adams
D) Julia Grant
- 4. What was the name of the organization Keckley founded to aid newly freed people?
A) The Contraband Relief Association
B) The American Red Cross
C) The Freedmen's Bureau
D) The Underground Railroad
- 5. A major controversy surrounding the book's publication involved:
A) Accusations of plagiarism
B) Support for the Confederacy
C) Fabricated stories about the President
D) The revealing of private conversations with Mary Todd Lincoln
- 6. Besides Mary Todd Lincoln, Keckley's clientele included wives of:
A) Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Johnson
B) John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators
C) Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis
D) Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists
- 7. Keckley was born into slavery in which state?
A) Virginia
B) South Carolina
C) Maryland
D) Georgia
- 8. The publication of the book ultimately had what effect on Keckley's career?
A) It made her a wealthy best-selling author
B) It damaged her reputation and business
C) It earned her a political appointment
D) It had little to no effect
- 9. Keckley's memoir is considered an important example of:
A) War journalism
B) Presidential biography
C) Fashion history
D) Slave narrative literature
- 10. What personal tragedy did Keckley and Mary Todd Lincoln share?
A) The loss of a son
B) Bankruptcy
C) Imprisonment during the war
D) The loss of a husband in the war
- 11. After the White House, Keckley taught sewing and domestic arts at:
A) Wilberforce University
B) Howard University
C) Oberlin College
D) Hampton Institute
- 12. How did Keckley originally become enslaved?
A) She was a prisoner of war.
B) She was born into slavery.
C) She was captured in Africa.
D) She was sold by her family.
- 13. What tragic event happened to Keckley's son, George?
A) He was killed in the Civil War.
B) He was sold away from her.
C) He died of illness as a child.
D) He disappeared and was never found.
- 14. What was the 'contraband' referred to in the Contraband Relief Association?
A) Abolitionist literature
B) Confederate military plans
C) Escaped enslaved people classified as property
D) Illegal goods smuggled from the South
- 15. What personal item of Mary Todd Lincoln's did Keckley famously save?
A) Willie Lincoln's toys
B) Her wedding ring
C) Lincoln's blood-stained gloves from the assassination
D) The original Emancipation Proclamation
- 16. Keckley's son served in the Union Army during the Civil War. What was his name?
A) Thomas
B) William
C) Robert
D) George
- 17. What term does Keckley use to describe the enslaved people who fled to Union lines?
A) Refugees
B) Fugitives
C) Contrabands
D) Freedmen
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