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Biography of Frederick Douglass

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why does Douglass say that learning to read was a curse rather than a blessing?

a)

It showed his horrible situation, but not how to escape it.

b)

No books were available so he had nothing to read.

c)

He was upset that his slave owners would be angry with him.

d)

The young boys who helped him could get in serious trouble.

2.

What was Douglass's purpose for writing his autobiography?

a)

to make readers think writing is important

b)

to inform readers about the life of a slave

c)

to express feelings about Master Hugh

d)

to tell an interesting story from his past

3.

According to the text, What year was Frederick Douglass born?

a)

1890

b)

1895

c)

1818

d)

1918

4.
Shares the subject's personal thoughts and feelings about his/her life
a)
Autobiography
b)
Biography
c)
Both
d)
Neither
5.

What is a plantation?

a)

Small family farms that were used to help feed single families

b)

Large family houses that were passes down from generation to generation

c)

Large estates that grew cash crops, like cotton and sugar, using

slave labor.

d)

Small communities that were made up of farmers and slave laborers

6.

Why didn't Douglass know his mother very well?

a)

She was constantly dissatisfied with him

b)

He never saw his mother before he was sold

c)

She worked on a different plantation

d)

She died during childbirth

7.

At an early age, what did Douglass realize about reading and writing?

a)

He realized there was a connection between literacy and freedom

b)

He realized that he would never be able to read or write without asking for help

c)

He realized that reading and writing were simply a way that the white man felt superiod

d)

He realized that reading and writing were a waste of his time

8.

According to the text, where did Douglass teach himself how to read and write?

a)

While he was working in his master's home

b)

While he was out in the fields and plantations

c)

He would sneak into school just to try to listen to the lessons

d)

On the streets of Baltimore

9.

According to the text, what happened when Douglass was 15 years of age?

a)

He was hired as a body servant in the house

b)

He was made as a field hand, where he rebelled intensely

c)

He was given the opportunity to learn how to read and write

d)

He was forced to work inside the household to help educate the white children

10.

Who was Anna Murray?

a)

Douglass's slave owner's wife

b)

A young free black woman the helped him escape

c)

The person who helped him how to read the most

d)

A young teacher who allowed him to attend classes in secret

11.

Where did Douglass have to go in order to "declare himself free?"

a)

New York City

b)

Jamestown

c)

Pennsylvania

d)

Baltimore

12.

When did Frederick Douglass escape from slavery?

a)

September 11, 1838

b)

December 3, 1838

c)

September 13, 1838

d)

September 3, 1838

13.

Upon gaining his freedom, Frederick Douglass became known as a great orator

a)

True

b)

False

c)

The article does not state

14.

When was, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" published?

a)

1854

b)

1845

c)

1818

d)

1838

15.

After declaring himself free, why was Douglass still forced to travel overseas and away from the United States?

a)

He was technically a fugitive slave

b)

He was worried that the States would not take his book seriously

c)

He was ashamed that he never told his wife he was a slave in the past

d)

He received too many death threats while in the states

16.

How did Douglass receive his "legal" freedom from slavery?

a)

He was never able to be "legally" free from slavery

b)

His former masters were killed

c)

His book made so much money that he was able to purchase his freedom himself

d)

Abolitionists offered to purchase his freedom

17.

When Douglass returned to the states as a free man, where did he move his wife and family to?

a)

Rochester, New York

b)

Baltimore, Maryland

c)

New York Cty, New York

d)

Jersey Shore, New Jersey

18.

In which ways did Douglass contribute to the Civil War? Select ALL that apply!

a)

He recruited African-American men to fight in the U.S. Army

b)

He met with President Lincoln to advocate for equal treatment of black troops

c)

He served in the US army to help fight for the emancipation of slaves

d)

Two of his sons served in the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

19.

What did the 13th Amendment do?

a)

Granted national birthright citizenship

b)

Abolished slavery

c)

Stated that no one could be denied voting rights on the basis of race, skin color, or previous servitude.

d)

Stated the right to bear arms

20.

Why is the 15th Amendment so important?

a)

It abolished slavery

b)

It ensured that all men could vote, regardless of skin color or previous servitude

c)

It allowed for all women to have the right to vote in all general elections

d)

It granted national birthright citizenship