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Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the various people who served in the cabinet of one of the most famous Presidents in US history.

A multiple-choice quiz by civilwarnerd. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
civilwarnerd

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
358,771

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
266

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy? Hint

Gideon Welles

William Fessenden

William Seward

Edward Bates

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many Secretaries of War did Lincoln have? Hint

Two

Three

One

Four

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Question 3 of 10

3. How many cabinet positions were there when Lincoln held office? Hint

Eight

Ten

Seven

Five

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury for Lincoln? Hint

Edward Bates

William Fessenden

Salmon Chase

Monty Blair

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was Lincoln's first Attorney General? Hint

James Speed

Montgomery Blair

William Seward

Edward Bates

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Question 6 of 10

6. Lincoln wanted political diversity in his cabinet. What two people were Democrats in his FIRST cabinet? Hint

Welles and Blair

Welles and Stanton

Seward and Chase

Cameron and Smith

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who is generally regarded to have been the most radical Republican member of Lincoln's cabinet? Hint

William Seward

Salmon Chase

Edward Bates

Caleb Smith

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Question 8 of 10

8. What was Simon Cameron's job before becoming Secretary of War? Hint

Senator

Pennsylvania Political Boss

Representative

General

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Question 9 of 10

9. Why did Lincoln fire his Postmaster General, Montgomery Blair? Hint

Blair was a Democrat

Blair wanted to resign

Lincoln hated him

He wanted to keep a balance between Democrats and Republicans

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was the interesting middle name of Lincoln's first Interior Secretary, Caleb Smith? Hint

Portland

Slaughter

Blood

Mower

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy?

Answer: Gideon Welles

Gideon Welles was one of the most accomplished Sec Navs in US history. In four years he changed the navy to a force worthy of a superpower. Before the Civil War, there were about 90 ships; after it there were over 600. In particular, with the USS Monitor he introduced a new age of iron into the US Navy.

2. How many Secretaries of War did Lincoln have?

Answer: Two

Lincoln's first Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, served from 1861-62, and resigned because of allegations of corruption against him. Edwin Stanton was on the cabinet during Andrew Johnson's tenure. When Johnson fired Stanton, it was in violation of the Tenure of Office Act. This was one of the things that the House used to impeach Johnson.

3. How many cabinet positions were there when Lincoln held office?

Answer: Seven

The positions were Secretary of State, War, Navy, Treasury, Interior, Attorney General, and Postmaster General.

4. Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury for Lincoln?

Answer: Salmon Chase

Chase resigned in June of 1864 for several reasons. One was because he desired the Presidency, and another reason was that (because of this desire) he could sometimes be disloyal to Lincoln. Chase was named Chief Justice following Roger Taney's death in late 1864.

5. Who was Lincoln's first Attorney General?

Answer: Edward Bates

Edward Bates was the oldest member of the cabinet, having been born in the 1700s. He would resign after Lincoln was re-elected.

6. Lincoln wanted political diversity in his cabinet. What two people were Democrats in his FIRST cabinet?

Answer: Welles and Blair

Stanton was also a Democrat but he took over from Simon Cameron as Secretary of War and was therefore not part of the first cabinet.

7. Who is generally regarded to have been the most radical Republican member of Lincoln's cabinet?

Answer: Salmon Chase

Chase was one of the few members of Lincoln's cabinet who openly opposed slavery.

8. What was Simon Cameron's job before becoming Secretary of War?

Answer: Pennsylvania Political Boss

One of the reasons he got the job was because he helped Lincoln receive the Republican nomination.

9. Why did Lincoln fire his Postmaster General, Montgomery Blair?

Answer: He wanted to keep a balance between Democrats and Republicans

Lincoln fired Blair because he had fired Chase. He wanted to keep the peace, and believed that having gotten rid of a radical Republican, then he had to get rid of a Democrat as well.

10. What was the interesting middle name of Lincoln's first Interior Secretary, Caleb Smith?

Answer: Blood

Caleb Blood Smith was a Republican from Indiana who helped Lincoln receive the nomination over Seward, Chase, and Bates. He resigned earlier in the war because he didn't like the job and had failing health. John Usher would replace him.

Source: Author civilwarnerd

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