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 The book serves as both a personal testament and a historical document, ensuring that the voices of those who suffered under slavery are heard and remembered.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