Assassination Attempts on U.S. Presidents

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. The first president who had an assassination attempt on him was Andrew Jackson, in 1835. The would-be assassin was Richard Lawrence. Why did he try to kill Jackson? He felt that the purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon was invalid and that the land should be returned to France. He felt that Jackson's treatment of American Indians was unfair and he wanted to bring attention to the cause. He thought he was King Richard III of England and that the U.S. owed him money for property stolen from him. He was an anarchist and was hoping to overthrow the United States.

2. What was the verdict in Lawrence's trial? Not guilty because of lack of evidence Guilty, death sentence Not guilty because of insanity Guilty, life in prison

3. One of the most famous assassinations was that of Abraham Lincoln, who was killed by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre in 1865. What day was it? Good Friday Easter Sunday Holy Thursday None of these

4. Lincoln's assassination was part of a conspiracy to cause the U.S. government to collapse. True False

5. Why were the people involved in Lincoln's assassination given a military trial? They may have interfered with the outcome of the Civil War Lincoln was commander-in-chief of the armed forces It was convenient because of the number of military trials being given to people in the Confederacy Booth shot a military officer during his escape

6. James Garfield is another president who was assassinated. Charles Guiteau was the killer. Where was Garfield shot? A railroad depot A debate A restaurant A hospital

7. Garfield was buried near which lake? Lake Superior Lake Michigan Lake Erie Lake Huron

8. How many attempts were made on Guiteau's life before he was eventually hanged? 2 3 1 0

9. William McKinley was shot in 1901 by Leon F. Czolgosz. What state was Czolgosz from? Indiana Kansas Ohio Illinois

10. What event was McKinley at when he was shot? House-Senate Joint Meeting U.S.-Europe Annual Conference Pan-American Exposition 1901 Democratic Convention

11. Another attempted assassination was against Theodore Roosevelt when he was trying to get a third term in office. In 1912, Roosevelt was about to give a speech when John Schrank fired a revolver at him. The bullet struck his pocket, where which two items saved his life? An eyeglass case and a copy of his speech An eyeglass case and a pocket mirror A copy of his speech and a badge None of these; the bullet didn't hit his pocket

12. Although he was badly bleeding, Roosevelt told his audience that, "It takes more than a bullet to kill a ______________" Answer: (Two Words - animal)

13. Franklin D. Roosevelt, was almost killed by Giuseppe Zangara. Zangara was angry at what capitalism represented, and he hated people who were better off than him. He originally planned to kill which president? Harding Hoover Coolidge Wilson

14. Instead of Roosevelt, Zangara killed Anton Cermak, who was the mayor of which city? Boston Chicago Philadelphia New York City

15. Next up is Harry Truman. Griselio Torresola and Oscar Collazo approached the Blair House (where Truman was staying while work was being done on the White House) and tried to kill the president so they could get attention to gain independence for which country? Guam The Philippines Puerto Rico Japan

16. Collazo and Torresola tried to kill Truman because he didn't care about their country and didn't do anything to help it. True False

17. John F. Kennedy is the next president, who in November 1963 was assassinated. While driving through the streets of Dallas, in what order were the procession of cars? Kennedy, motorcycle police, Johnson, Dallas police chief Johnson, Dallas police chief, motorcycle police, Kennedy Motorcycle police, Johnson, Kennedy, Dallas police chief Dallas police chief, Kennedy, motorcycle police, Johnson

18. After Oswald shot Kennedy, where was he eventually found and captured? None of these A restaurant His home The hospital

19. Kennedy's successor, Lyndon Johnson, was the first president to be inaugurated in the air. True False

20. Gerald Ford is also on the list of assassination attempted presidents, and he actually had two attempts on his life. What state did these both happen in? New York Florida Texas California

21. At the second assassination attempt on President Ford, Sara Jane Moore tried to shoot and kill him because she wanted to get along with her radical friends after they found out she was an informer for which organization? CIA FBI NSA NTS

22. In 1981 the president who had an attempt on his life was Ronald Reagan. John Hinckley was the shooter. Where was Reagan shot, threatening his life? Lung Brain Heart Liver

23. In the operating room, Reagan quipped "I hope you people are all Republicans." True False

24. Who was the first president to request official protection? Andrew Jackson John Tyler John Quincy Adams William Henry Harrison

25. What was the Secret Service originally intended to do? Stop the production of counterfeit money Protect members of Congress Make sure that blacks were being treated fairly in the South during Reconstruction Work undercover at voting booths to make sure it was fair