1. One of the chief characters in discussions of the Wild West is the sheriff. Where did the word "sheriff" originate?
2. Only one president of the United States ever served in the U.S. Senate after completing his presidential term. Who was he?
3. Two historic projects dealing with transportation were completed in 1869. Can you name them?
4. True or false: The following characters were all fictional: a) Johnny Appleseed b) Buffalo Bill or c) Casey Jones?
5. The expression "mugwump" was first used in a political context in the presidential race of 1884. What is a "mugwump"?
6. True or false: To be impeached means that one is guilty.
7. Was there ever an impeachment trial of a Supreme Court justice?
8. True or false: Teddy Roosevelt led his Rough Riders up the San Juan Hill in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.
9. In the 1872 presidential election, the second-place candidate, who had received 66 electoral votes, died before the votes could be case. Who was he?
10. Under the U.S. Constitution, if a president-elect should die before assuming the presidency, how would a new president be selected?
Answers
1. It is derived of two Old English words: shire, one of the British administrative divisions, and reeve, an administrator or overseer. Shire reeve became sheriff.
2. Andrew Johnson.
3. The completion of the first North American transcontinental railroad and the opening of the Suez Canal.
4. False.
5. It was used to describe those Republicans who refused to support the party's nominee, James G. Blaine, against Grover Cleveland. Some describe a mugwump as one who straddles a fence with his mug on one side of the fence and his wump on the other.
6. False. Impeached means accused, or questioned, not necessarily guilty.
7. Yes. Samuel Chase, an appointee of George Washington, was impeached.
8. False: It was Kettle Hill.
9. Horace Greeley. He was defeated in the balloting by Ulysses S. Grant.
10. Under Article XX, Section 3 (known as the "Lame Duck" Amendment), ratified in 1933, the vice president-elect would become president.
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