- 1. Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, served from 1853 to 1857, coming to office during a deeply divided era characterized by tensions over slavery and territorial expansion. Born on November 23, 1804, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Pierce was a graduate of Bowdoin College and a prominent lawyer. His political career began in the New Hampshire legislature, and he quickly rose through the ranks to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a senator. A Democrat with pro-Southern sympathies, Pierce's presidency is often remembered for his support of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed territories to decide for themselves whether they would enter the Union as free or slave states, igniting violent conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas.' Despite his advocacy for expansion and Manifest Destiny, Pierce's administration struggled to maintain peace and unity in a nation increasingly factionalized by the slavery issue. After losing the 1856 election to Republican candidate John C. Frémont, he retreated from the political spotlight, and his legacy remains controversial, often criticized for his inability to address the deeply rooted conflicts in America that would ultimately lead to the Civil War. Pierce died on October 8, 1869, but his presidency remains a critical period in American history, reflecting the complexities of pre-Civil War politics.
When was Franklin Pierce elected as the 14th U.S. President?
A) 1852
B) 1856
C) 1860
D) 1848
- 2. In which state was Franklin Pierce born?
A) New Hampshire
B) New York
C) Massachusetts
D) Vermont
- 3. During which war did Franklin Pierce serve as a general?
A) Spanish-American War
B) Mexican-American War
C) World War II
D) American Civil War
- 4. Who served as Franklin Pierce's Vice President?
A) Hannibal Hamlin
B) John C. Breckinridge
C) William R. King
D) Millard Fillmore
- 5. Who was Franklin Pierce's First Lady?
A) Dolley Madison
B) Jane Pierce
C) Abigail Adams
D) Martha Washington
- 6. In what year did Franklin Pierce die?
A) 1869
B) 1857
C) 1875
D) 1870
- 7. Which act, passed during Pierce's presidency, repealed the Missouri Compromise?
A) Fugitive Slave Act
B) Compromise of 1850
C) Kansas-Nebraska Act
D) Homestead Act
- 8. Which Cabinet member resigned during Franklin Pierce's presidency due to the Ostend Manifesto controversy?
A) Secretary of State William L. Marcy
B) Secretary of War Jefferson Davis
C) Attorney General Caleb Cushing
D) Secretary of the Treasury James Guthrie
- 9. Which former President was Pierce's roommate while attending Bowdoin College?
A) James K. Polk
B) Nathaniel Hawthorne
C) Millard Fillmore
D) John Tyler
- 10. During which battle in the Mexican-American War did Franklin Pierce earn praise for his bravery?
A) Battle of Contreras
B) Battle of Churubusco
C) Battle of Buena Vista
D) Battle of Mexico City
- 11. What tragedy struck Franklin Pierce shortly before his inauguration, leading to the start of a period of depression and heavy drinking?
A) Personal bankruptcy
B) House fire
C) Failed assassination attempt
D) Death of his son in a train accident
- 12. Who won the election following Franklin Pierce's presidency in 1856?
A) James Buchanan
B) Stephen A. Douglas
C) John C. Fremont
D) Millard Fillmore
- 13. Which important Supreme Court case was decided during Pierce's presidency, leading to tensions over slavery?
A) Dred Scott v. Sandford
B) Marbury v. Madison
C) Brown v. Board of Education
D) Plessy v. Ferguson
- 14. When was Franklin Pierce born?
A) March 4, 1829
B) November 23, 1804
C) July 4, 1776
D) January 1, 1850
- 15. What was Franklin Pierce's political party affiliation?
A) Whig
B) Democratic
C) Federalist
D) Republican
- 16. What was the profession of Franklin Pierce before becoming President?
A) Doctor
B) Lawyer
C) Teacher
D) Farmer
- 17. Franklin Pierce graduated from which prestigious college?
A) Yale University
B) Princeton University
C) Harvard University
D) Bowdoin College
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