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Quiz about Franklin Pierce
Quiz about Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce Trivia Quiz


A quiz on the 14th president of the United States, Franklin Pierce.

A multiple-choice quiz by AdmiralShark. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
AdmiralShark
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
188,652
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
9 / 15
Plays
444
Last 3 plays: Danny5 (9/15), Guest 174 (15/15), Guest 104 (4/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. Pierce's father Benjamin served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. What rank did he achieve by the end of the war? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Pierce was the first US president to be born in New Hampshire. In what New Hampshire city was Pierce born? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. From what university did Pierce graduate in 1824? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. In what battle was Pierce injuried during the Mexican War? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. On what ballot did Pierce win the 1852 Democratic nomination for president? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Who was the Whig party candidate that opposed Pierce in the 1852 general election? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. What noted 19th century author/poet was a close friend of Pierce and even contributed a campaign biography to the Democrats? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. How many states did Pierce's opponent win in the 1852 presidential election? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Where was Pierce's vice-president William King sworn into office? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. What tragedy happened to Pierce between his election and swearing-in as president? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. Future Confederate States of America president Jefferson Davis served in Pierce's cabinet as war secretary. Who replaced Davis in Pierce's cabinet as secretary of war? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. The United States, during the Pierce administration, acquired 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico which would eventually become the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. The purchase would be known as the Gadsden Purchase, after James Gadsden, who negotiated the purchase. What office did Gadsden hold at the time? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. What senator sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska act in 1854 during Pierce's administration, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and sought to permit the settlers of those territories to decide for themselves if they would permit slavery? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. In 1855, the Pierce administration recognized the government of William Walker, a proslavery American that led a bunch of mercenaries to overthrow the government of what Central American country? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. During whose presidential administration did Pierce die? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 17 2024 : Danny5: 9/15
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 174: 15/15
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 104: 4/15
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 50: 6/15
Feb 24 2024 : Guest 174: 14/15
Feb 20 2024 : Guest 162: 8/15
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 65: 0/15
Feb 07 2024 : Guest 174: 15/15
Feb 05 2024 : Guest 23: 15/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Pierce's father Benjamin served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. What rank did he achieve by the end of the war?

Answer: lieutenant

Benjamin Pierce fought at Bunker Hill and Saratoga and spent the infamous winter with the troops at Valley Forge. He left the army in 1784 as a company commander.
2. Pierce was the first US president to be born in New Hampshire. In what New Hampshire city was Pierce born?

Answer: Hillsborough

Pierce was born on November 23, 1804 in Hillsborough, New Hampshire on the banks of the Contoocook River.
3. From what university did Pierce graduate in 1824?

Answer: Bowdoin

In 1824, Pierce graduated from Bowdoin College 5th in a class of 14.
4. In what battle was Pierce injuried during the Mexican War?

Answer: Contreras

Pierce was injuried during the battle of Contreras when his horse paniced, driving Pierce against the pommel of his saddle. Pierce passed out due to the pain.
5. On what ballot did Pierce win the 1852 Democratic nomination for president?

Answer: 49th

Pierce did not even record any votes for president during the 1852 Democratic Convention in Baltimore till the 35th ballot when Virginia casts their votes for him as a compromise candidate. Support increased for him on every ballot after until he won the nomination on the 49th ballot.
6. Who was the Whig party candidate that opposed Pierce in the 1852 general election?

Answer: Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott was the commander of US forces during the Mexican War. He won the Whig nomination on the 53rd ballot, defeating President Millard Fillmore.
7. What noted 19th century author/poet was a close friend of Pierce and even contributed a campaign biography to the Democrats?

Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hawthorne and Pierce met each other while attending Bowdoin College and remain friends the rest of their lives. In fact, Pierce had taken Hawthorne to the White Mountains in 1864 in an effort to help Hawthorne regain his health. Pierce was, in fact, in the bedroom next door when Hawthorne died.
8. How many states did Pierce's opponent win in the 1852 presidential election?

Answer: 4

Scott won Kentucky, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Vermont in the election, losing to Pierce in the electoral college 252-42.
9. Where was Pierce's vice-president William King sworn into office?

Answer: Havana, Cuba

At the time of the election, King was terminally ill with tuberculosis and travelled to Havana to seek treatment. Congress passed special legislation allowing King to take the oath of office in Havana, which he did. He then returned to his home in Alabama, where he died one month after being sworn in.
10. What tragedy happened to Pierce between his election and swearing-in as president?

Answer: death of his only remaining son

Pierce's only remaining son, Benjamin, was the only victim of a train wreck that occured on January 6, 1853, shortly after the train had left Andover, Massachusetts for Concord, New Hampshire, where the Pierces were going to attend a funeral for a family friend.
11. Future Confederate States of America president Jefferson Davis served in Pierce's cabinet as war secretary. Who replaced Davis in Pierce's cabinet as secretary of war?

Answer: no one

Davis served as war secretary during the entirety of the Pierce administration. Matter of fact, there was not one change in any cabinet position throughout Pierce's entire term in office.
12. The United States, during the Pierce administration, acquired 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico which would eventually become the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico. The purchase would be known as the Gadsden Purchase, after James Gadsden, who negotiated the purchase. What office did Gadsden hold at the time?

Answer: US minister to Mexico

Gadsden was the president of the South Carolina Railroad Company from 1840 to 1850 and promoted the construction of a transcontinental railroad by a southern route. Gadsden was appointed US minister to Mexico in 1853 by Pierce to acquire the neccessary land. Gadsden died in 1858.
13. What senator sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska act in 1854 during Pierce's administration, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and sought to permit the settlers of those territories to decide for themselves if they would permit slavery?

Answer: Stephen Douglas

Douglas was the Illinois senator famous for his debates with Abraham Lincoln in 1858. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1860, losing in a rematch to Lincoln. Douglas died in 1861 and is buried in Chicago.
14. In 1855, the Pierce administration recognized the government of William Walker, a proslavery American that led a bunch of mercenaries to overthrow the government of what Central American country?

Answer: Nicaragua

Walker served as president of Nicaragua from 1856 to 1857. Eventually, he fell out of favor with the US and the US navy arranged his removal from office in 1857. Walker's dream was to unite all the nations of Central America under one government. After one more attempt to acheive his goal in 1860, in Honduras, he was captured by the British Navy who turned him over to Honduras, who then executed him by firing squad.
15. During whose presidential administration did Pierce die?

Answer: Ulysses S. Grant

Pierce grew unpopular in the north because of his anti-war stance during the Civil War. Pierce died October 8, 1869 in Concord, New Hampshire. He was given a funeral accorded a former president of the United States. It wasn't until 1914 that the state of New Hampshire erected a statue to Pierce on the capital grounds and it wasn't until 1946 that a granite marker was placed on his grave in the Old North Cemetary in Concord.
Source: Author AdmiralShark

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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