Not So Evil US Presidents Trivia Quiz

Answer: Maine

The Aroostook War settled a boundary dispute between New Brunswick and Maine that had existed since the end of the American Revolution. As both British and American settlers were trying to claim the land, the two nations seemed on the brink of a military skirmish.

However, Van Buren dispatched Winfield Scott to the area who worked with the British to arrive at a peaceful solution and a treaty was ultimately approved after Van Buren left office. According to some sources, the use of the term "OK" was popularized by the initials of one of Van Buren's nicknames, "Old Kinderhook."

Answer: Whig

Harrison was the President of the Whig political party and many of his fellow Whigs were anxious to remove all the appointed Democratic office holders. In his inaugural address, Harrison indicated a desire to reverse the spoils systems often associated with the Democrats and Andrew Jackson.

Unfortunately, Harrison died shortly after taking office and didn't have a chance to implement his policies for better or worse. His grandson Benjamin would later become President as well.

Answer: Texas

When his predecessor William Henry Harrison died in 1841, Tyler assumed the Presidency despite ambiguity in the Constitution (the 25th Amendment to clarify the Presidential succession was not enacted until 1967). Disowned by his own Whig party, Tyler also found opposition with rival Democrats, making it difficult to get his policies enacted.

One of those issues was the annexation of Texas, which was also supported by the 1844 Democratic Presidential nominee James K Polk. After Polk won the election, Tyler pushed through the inevitable annexation before Polk took office. While many historians praise Tyler's integrity standing up to his own party, he is also widely admonished for going on to support the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Answer: California

After the Mexican-American War, where Taylor gained national prominence as a Major General, the question of whether the lands ceded by Mexico would allow slavery threatened to invoke passionate debate on both sides. Even though he was a slaveholder himself, Taylor sought for peace between both opposing sides on the slavery question. Knowing that admitting California to the union as a territory would inflame the slavery issue, Taylor advocated statehood for land instead.

This allowed Californians to draft a state constitution and decide for themselves to outlaw slavery.

Answer: Library

Prior to Fillmore, previous Presidents would bring and then take their own collection of books with them to and from the White House. During Fillmore's presidency Congress appropriated funds for a permanent library, a request spearheaded by Fillmore's wife Abigail.

After leaving office in 1853, Fillmore was the Presidential candidate for the controversial Know Nothing Party, though there is debate over how aligned he was with party's nativist views.

Answer: Japan

The first treaty ever between the United States and Japan, the Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity opened up sea ports to the US for trade and provided protections for American in the area. The work for the treaty originally started with Millard Fillmore sending Navy Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan, but the treaty was not signed until after Pierce became President.

In addition to diplomatic efforts with Japan, the US signed a trade treaty with Canada and acquired land from Mexico to build a transcontinental railroad. Ultimately, Pierce was unable to stop the growing animosity between the northern and southern states and the country accelerated his path to eventual civil war.

Answer: The Pony Express

Stretching from Missouri to California, the Pony Express used a system of horse bound riders to deliver mail along the route. The first mail delivered to California included a note of congratulations from President Buchanan to government officials. Staring in 1860, the Pony Express soon ended with the advent of the Civil War the following year.

Historians generally regard Buchanan's presidency as a failure because of a perceived inactivity in the face of increased sectional strife and the growing calls for secession, which ultimately took place at the end of his presidency after Abraham Lincoln was elected his successor.

Answer: Alaska

Purchased in 1867 for roughly 2 cents an acre, the Alaska purchases is one lasting positive impact of Johnson's mercurial presidency. Dismissed by critics as Seward's folly, the move was generally well received by the public. The Klondike Gold Rush in 1896 helped attractive and influx of people into the area, ultimately validating the acquisition, especially for such a relatively inexpensive price.

Answer: 15th

The 15th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified during Grant's presidency with his full support. He took several actions along the way to help ease its passage, including restoring military rule in George to restore African American legislators and asked the Nebraska governor to call a special legislative session to secure the state's ratification. Grant's reputation has improved over the years, in large measure because of his support for African Americans and promoting a more humane policy towards Native Americans.

Answer: Naval Arms Reduction

The Washington Naval Conference was successful in reducing the naval limitations of the attending countries (Japan, China, France, Britain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Portugal). It was the first ever arms control conference in history and the limitations would remain in place for a decade. Ultimately hostiles arising from the Great Depression caused the countries to abandon the terms of disarmament. Harding also was a vocal advocate of emerging technologies, like the radio and automobile.