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Mary Todd Lincoln Trivia Quiz

Historians study Abraham Lincoln closely, but how much do you know about his wife?

A multiple-choice quiz by mrsmarylincoln. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
mrsmarylincoln

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
12,456

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1207

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many siblings (full and half) did Mary Todd have? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many years of schooling did Mary receive? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. Besides English, what language did Mary speak? Hint

Latin

Spanish

French

Italian

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Question 4 of 10

4. What other well-known politician courted Mary in Springfield? Hint

Stephen A. Douglas

Henry Clay

James Buchanon

Ronald Reagan

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Question 5 of 10

5. How many of the Lincoln-Douglas debates did Mary attend? Hint

all of them

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Question 6 of 10

6. After his single term in congress in 1849, Lincoln was offered a political position that Mary convinced him to refuse. What was the position? Hint

Postmaster of Springfield, Illinois

Head of a land office in Kansas

Head of the republican party in Illinois

Secretary of the Oregon Territory

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Question 7 of 10

7. According to the Smithsonian Institution and the Chicago Historical Society, what color was the dress Mary wore to Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865? Hint

Solid blue taffeta

White silk with flowered ruffles

Purple velvet with black lace trim

Black silk with small grey flowers

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Question 8 of 10

8. How long did Mary stay in the White House after Abraham's murder? Hint

40 days

20 days

10 days

50 days

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Question 9 of 10

9. What would Mary Lincoln have considered her biggest job and best accomplishment? Hint

Being the First Lady

Raising her 4 boys and being Abraham's helpmate

Cooking wonderful meals

Redecorating the White House

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Question 10 of 10

10. When did Mary Lincoln die? Hint

December 18, 1880

April 15, 1865

July 16, 1882

July 15, 1873

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many siblings (full and half) did Mary Todd have?

Answer: 15

Mary's father, Robert S. Todd, fathered 16 children- 7 with his first wife and 9 with his second. Mary's full siblings were Elizabeth, Frances, Levi, (Mary), Ann, Robert,(died as infant) and George. Her half siblings were Robert (died as infant), Alex, David, Samuel, Emilie, Katherine, Elodie, Martha, and Margaret.

2. How many years of schooling did Mary receive?

Answer: 12

Mary received 12 years of schooling - an extraordinary amount for a girl of her time. Her father strongly believed in education, not only for boys but for girls as well.

3. Besides English, what language did Mary speak?

Answer: French

Mary learned French at Mentelle's Academy for Girls in Lexington, KY. She was fluent in it, and spoke it all of her life. It was especially handy in her later years when she lived for a time in Pau, France. Recently, the possibility that she also spoke German has come to light. This is not proven yet, however.

4. What other well-known politician courted Mary in Springfield?

Answer: Stephen A. Douglas

It is a Todd family tradition that Mary was proposed to by Senator Douglas. He told her that if she accepted she would become the wife of the president. She declined his offer, saying, 'Mr Douglas, I will be the wife of the president, but not as Mrs. Douglas.'

5. How many of the Lincoln-Douglas debates did Mary attend?

Answer: 1

Mary only attended the last debate. Because the Lincolns had two small, rowdy boys in 1858, it was too difficult (and expensive) for Mary to travel to all the debates.

6. After his single term in congress in 1849, Lincoln was offered a political position that Mary convinced him to refuse. What was the position?

Answer: Secretary of the Oregon Territory

Lincoln wanted to accept the position, but Mary convinced him not to for two reasons. She did not wish to move to unsettled country with small children, and more importantly, she felt that a move to Oregon would effectively end Lincoln's political career.

7. According to the Smithsonian Institution and the Chicago Historical Society, what color was the dress Mary wore to Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865?

Answer: Black silk with small grey flowers

Both the Smithsonian and the Chicago Historical Society have fragments of cloth said to have come from the dress Mary wore that night. I have seen them both, and they are the same fabric. While it can not be absolutely proven that she was wearing this dress, the fact that both institutions obtained these pieces separately, and both are identified the same way, makes me feel confident that the fragments are most likely from the dress she wore.

8. How long did Mary stay in the White House after Abraham's murder?

Answer: 40 days

Lincoln was shot on Good Friday and Mary stayed at the White House for 40 days - somewhat symbolic.

9. What would Mary Lincoln have considered her biggest job and best accomplishment?

Answer: Raising her 4 boys and being Abraham's helpmate

Both Mary and Abraham took great pride in all their sons.

10. When did Mary Lincoln die?

Answer: July 16, 1882

Mary lived 17 years after Abraham's murder. She was finally reunited with her loved ones on July 16, 1882.

Source: Author mrsmarylincoln

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