Franklin Pierce Trivia: Questions and Answers

Welcome to our Franklin Pierce trivia challenge! Test your knowledge on the 14th President of the United States with 25 intriguing questions covering his presidency, personal life, and impact on American history. Dive into fascinating facts about Pierce’s time in office, his achievements, and challenges faced during his term. Explore his background, policies, and legacy through these trivia questions that will put your knowledge to the test. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just curious about this influential figure, this quiz is an entertaining way to learn more about President Franklin Pierce. Are you ready to uncover interesting details about the 14th President? Let’s delve into the world of Franklin Pierce and see how well you know this significant leader in U.S. history!

1. What number President of the United States was Franklin Pierce?
Answer: 14th President

2. In which state was Franklin Pierce born?
Answer: New Hampshire

3. Who served as Franklin Pierce’s Vice President during his presidency?
Answer: William R. King

4. What political party did Franklin Pierce belong to during his presidency?
Answer: Democratic Party

5. Which controversial law passed during Pierce’s presidency allowed citizens to decide whether a state would permit or prohibit slavery?
Answer: Kansas-Nebraska Act

6. What tragic event occurred to Franklin Pierce and his wife shortly before his inauguration as President?
Answer: Their only surviving child died in a train accident

7. Where did Franklin Pierce attend college before becoming President?
Answer: Bowdoin College

8. What was the name of Franklin Pierce’s wife?
Answer: Jane Pierce

9. What significant war did Franklin Pierce serve in as an officer during his military career?
Answer: Mexican-American War

10. Which U.S. territory did Franklin Pierce help acquire through the Gadsden Purchase in 1853?
Answer: Parts of present-day Arizona and New Mexico

11. What was the name of the treaty signed under Franklin Pierce’s presidency that resolved the Oregon boundary dispute with Britain?
Answer: Oregon Treaty or Treaty of Washington

12. Which capital city was established during Franklin Pierce’s presidency in present-day Kansas?
Answer: Topeka

13. What was Franklin Pierce’s stance on issues surrounding slavery during his presidency?
Answer: He supported the expansion of slavery into new territories

14. Who was the Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce’s administration, who later became a Confederate general during the Civil War?
Answer: Jefferson Davis

15. Which act signed by Pierce led to the building of a transcontinental railroad?
Answer: The Kansas-Nebraska Act

16. What was the capital of the United States during Franklin Pierce’s presidency?
Answer: Washington D.C.

17. What was the nickname given to Franklin Pierce by his detractors due to his perceived excessive drinking?
Answer: Fainting Frank

18. Which political office did Franklin Pierce hold before becoming President of the United States?
Answer: U.S. Senator from New Hampshire

19. What famous literary work did Franklin Pierce have a personal connection to, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne?
Answer: “The Scarlet Letter”

20. What significant event took place in San Juan Island during Franklin Pierce’s presidency that nearly led to a war between the U.S. and Britain?
Answer: The Pig War

21. What was the official language spoken by Franklin Pierce at home before he became President?
Answer: French

22. What religious denomination did Franklin Pierce affiliate with throughout his life?
Answer: Episcopalian

23. What major economic issue dominated much of Franklin Pierce’s presidency and led to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
Answer: Debate over the expansion of slavery

24. Which future Confederate general served as an officer under Franklin Pierce in the Mexican-American War?
Answer: Robert E. Lee

25. What was the major decision made by Franklin Pierce regarding the opening of trade with Japan?
Answer: The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed, opening trade relations between the U.S. and Japan.