- 1. The 'Battle Cry of Freedom' by James M. McPherson is a captivating historical narrative that explores the American Civil War, delving into the complex interplay of political, social, and military factors that defined this tumultuous period in American history. McPherson, a renowned historian and expert on the Civil War, weaves together a rich tapestry of anecdotes, battles, and poignant personal stories that highlight not only the major events of the war, such as the Battle of Gettysburg and the Siege of Vicksburg, but also the immense cultural and social upheaval that accompanied the conflict. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, he presents a balanced view of both the Union and Confederate perspectives, illustrating the profound questions of freedom, democracy, and human rights that were at stake. The book also examines the experiences of soldiers, civilians, and enslaved people, emphasizing their roles and the war's transformative impact on American society. With 'Battle Cry of Freedom,' McPherson not only offers a detailed chronological account of the war but also engages readers with the moral dilemmas and ideological battles that shaped the nation, making it an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the Civil War and its lasting legacy on the United States.
What is the subtitle of 'Battle Cry of Freedom' by James M. McPherson?
A) A Nation Divided
B) The Road to Appomattox
C) The Civil War Era
D) The American Revolution
- 2. In what year was 'Battle Cry of Freedom' first published?
A) 1988
B) 1982
C) 1995
D) 1976
- 3. Which Pulitzer Prize category did 'Battle Cry of Freedom' win?
A) Fiction
B) History
C) General Nonfiction
D) Biography
- 4. 'Battle Cry of Freedom' is part of a larger series on American history published by Oxford University Press. What is the name of that series?
A) Oxford's American Narrative
B) The American Chronicles
C) The Oxford History of the United States
D) The Great American History Series
- 5. McPherson credits which Union general with developing the 'Anaconda Plan'?
A) George McClellan
B) Winfield Scott
C) Ulysses S. Grant
D) William T. Sherman
- 6. What was the name of the ironclad warship that fought the USS Monitor, as detailed by McPherson?
A) CSS Alabama
B) CSS Virginia
C) CSS Hunley
D) CSS Shenandoah
- 7. According to McPherson, the Emancipation Proclamation transformed the Union war aim to include:
A) Abolition of slavery
B) Manifest Destiny
C) Punishment of the South
D) Reconstruction
- 8. McPherson highlights the importance of the Union victory at Vicksburg because it:
A) Captured Jefferson Davis
B) Destroyed the Confederate navy
C) Gave the Union control of the Mississippi River
D) Ended the war in the West
- 9. What does McPherson identify as the 'turning point' of the war?
A) The capture of Atlanta
B) The Battle of Antietam
C) The Peninsula Campaign
D) The Battle of Gettysburg
- 10. McPherson describes General William T. Sherman's 'March to the Sea' as a strategy of:
A) Conventional siege
B) Guerilla tactics
C) Total war
D) Maneuver warfare
- 11. What 1864 battle, a devastating Union defeat, nearly cost Lincoln the election?
A) The Battle of the Crater
B) The Battle of Cold Harbor
C) The Battle of Spotsylvania
D) The Battle of the Wilderness
- 12. McPherson argues that Lincoln's re-election in 1864 was secured by:
A) Military victory in Atlanta
B) His opponent's poor health
C) Voter fraud
D) A surge in anti-war sentiment
- 13. Where did General Robert E. Lee surrender the Army of Northern Virginia?
A) Gettysburg
B) Washington, D.C.
C) Appomattox Court House
D) Richmond
- 14. McPherson estimates the total number of soldiers who died in the Civil War to be approximately:
A) 1,000,000
B) 620,000
C) 450,000
D) 750,000
- 15. What does McPherson cite as the most important consequence of the Civil War?
A) The abolition of slavery
B) The expansion of the United States
C) The supremacy of the federal government
D) The industrialization of the South
- 16. McPherson describes the pre-war U.S. as a 'house divided,' a phrase originally used by:
A) Thomas Jefferson
B) John C. Calhoun
C) Abraham Lincoln
D) Henry Clay
- 17. What 1854 law, discussed by McPherson, inflamed sectional tensions by allowing popular sovereignty on slavery in new territories?
A) The Fugitive Slave Act
B) The Missouri Compromise
C) The Wilmot Proviso
D) The Kansas-Nebraska Act
- 18. The Dred Scott decision, analyzed by McPherson, ruled that:
A) Dred Scott was a free man
B) The Missouri Compromise was constitutional
C) Slaves were U.S. citizens
D) Congress could not ban slavery in the territories
- 19. McPherson identifies which individual as the 'greatest asset' of the Confederate cause?
A) Robert E. Lee
B) Jefferson Davis
C) Stonewall Jackson
D) J.E.B. Stuart
- 20. What does McPherson identify as the Confederacy's greatest advantage at the war's outset?
A) A larger population
B) A stronger navy
C) Superior industrial capacity
D) Defensive strategy on familiar territory
- 21. McPherson credits the leadership of which general as crucial to ultimate Union victory?
A) George McClellan
B) Ambrose Burnside
C) Joseph Hooker
D) Ulysses S. Grant
- 22. According to McPherson, the Confederacy was ultimately defeated due to:
A) A lack of belief in their cause
B) The Union's overwhelming resources and manpower
C) Poor military leadership from start to finish
D) Massive slave rebellions behind lines
- 23. What was the name of the Confederate strategy that relied on European intervention?
A) Anaconda Plan
B) King Cotton Diplomacy
C) The Offensive-Defensive
D) Scott's Great Snake
- 24. Which Union general is credited with the 'March to the Sea'?
A) George McClellan
B) William Tecumseh Sherman
C) Ulysses S. Grant
D) George Meade
- 25. What was the primary Union strategy to defeat the Confederacy known as?
A) The Anaconda Plan
B) The Virginia Plan
C) The Cotton Blockade
D) The Southern Strategy
- 26. Which battle is considered the bloodiest single day in American military history?
A) Gettysburg
B) Chancellorsville
C) Shiloh
D) Antietam
- 27. McPherson describes the Civil War as a 'second American' what?
A) Revolution
B) Renaissance
C) Constitution
D) Awakening
- 28. Which state was the first to secede from the Union?
A) Mississippi
B) Virginia
C) Georgia
D) South Carolina
- 29. Who was the President of the Confederate States of America?
A) Robert E. Lee
B) Stonewall Jackson
C) Jefferson Davis
D) Alexander Stephens
- 30. What was the primary source of soldiers for the Union and Confederate armies?
A) Drafted conscripts
B) Professional soldiers
C) Foreign mercenaries
D) Volunteers
- 31. Which Union victory gave the North control of the Mississippi River?
A) Atlanta
B) Vicksburg
C) Gettysburg
D) Antietam
- 32. McPherson argues that the North's greatest advantage was its:
A) Knowledge of the terrain
B) Military leadership
C) Industrial capacity
D) Morale and will to fight
- 33. What was the name given to Northern Democrats who opposed the war?
A) Carpetbaggers
B) Fire-Eaters
C) Scalawags
D) Copperheads
- 34. For which prestigious award did 'Battle Cry of Freedom' win?
A) The Pulitzer Prize
B) The Bancroft Prize
C) The National Book Award
D) The Nobel Prize in Literature
- 35. How does McPherson characterize President Lincoln's role in the Union victory?
A) As largely symbolic
B) As militarily interfering
C) As indispensable
D) As focused only on politics
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