Behind the Scenes Preface

What is Keckley's purpose for writing about Mrs Lincoln?

• Keckley's primary goal was to tell all the secrets about Mrs. Lincoln and the White House.

• Keckley's primary goal was to expose how Mr. Lincoln was disrespectful to Mrs. Lincoln.

• Keckley's primary goal was to protect Mrs. Lincoln's reputation as well as her own.

• To expose the secret that Mrs. Lincoln was hiding from the messengers.

What is the purpose of the Preface from Behind the Scenes?

• To present Keckley's point of view on slavery and the role it played in her life.

• To present the life and times of President and Mrs. Lincoln.

• To discuss the reason why the social society was negative toward Lincoln.

• The purpose was to discuss why Keckley and Mrs. Lincoln were not good friends.

Define human servitude.

• Freedom

• Slavery

• Labor for a punishment.

• Give a claim.

“The good that I have said of human servitude should be thrown into the scales with the evil that I have said of it.”

After reading the quote, What claim is the author making about slavery?

• Slavery should be evaluated only after looking at the good and the evil parts of it.

• Slavery is evil and should not be portrayed in any other way.

• Slavery should be portrayed as a good.

“They were not so much responsible for the curse under which I was born, as the God of nature and the fathers who framed the Constitution for the United States. The law descended to them, and it was but natural that they should recognize it, since it manifestly was their interest to do so.

What does Keckley describe in the first two sentences?

• She doesn't blame her family for bring her into slavery. They had no choice.

• She doesn't blame God because the law was descended to them.

• She doesn’t blame southerners for holding slaves because they were just doing what they had been brought up to believe was right. 

Define descend.

• To rise higher.

• to pass or move, down or down along.

• To give up.

• To move into heaven.

And yet a wrong was inflicted upon me; a cruel custom deprived me of my liberty, and since I was robbed of my dearest right, I would not have been human had I not rebelled against the robbery.”

What does this quote mean?

• Keckley is saying that she should rebel against slavery but must rebel in a humane way.

• Keckley means that even though she doesn’t blame others for enslaving her, she has every right to rebel against slavery.

• Keckley is saying that her customs of making dresses allow her rebel against slavery.

What is Keckley's idea about slavery in the Preface of Behind the Scenes?

• She is sympathetic toward southern slaveholders, but at the same time believes slavery to be wrong.

• She believes slavery is wrong and must be eliminated immediately.

• She hates the Southerns and all the people who believe Slavery is important for the economy.

• She does not believe slavery is wrong and everyone needs the experience to learn how to become self relient.

“An act may be wrong, but unless the ruling power recognizes the wrong, it is useless to hope for a correction of it. Principles may be right, but they are not established within an hour.”

What is Keckley describing in this quote?

• Keckley is describing the unjust of slavery but most people believe the principles of it are right.

• Keckley is describing that the government will not recognize the wrong in slavery.

• Keckley is describing the fact that an act maybe wrong and it will take an hour to establish the new law.

• Keckley is describing the fact that while the belief that all people should be free is a principle that many people might agree with, it will take time for the new nation’s laws to create the reality.

In the Preface, Who are “those who give force to moral laws”?

• Those who give force to moral laws” are people who fight for their principles. Keckley is referring here to abolitionists.

• Those who give force to moral laws” are people who fight for their principles. Keckley is referring here to the Confederates.

• Those who give force to moral laws” are people who fight for their principles. Keckley is referring here to Mrs. Lincoln.

• Keckley refers to whatever force, or government, is in power.