| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| In an essay for Esquire magazine, this writer detailed his own rise and fall in The Crack-Up. The marriage of this author and his wife, “the prince and princess of their generation” according to Ring Lardner, collapsed under the strain of his drinking and her mental illness. In his best- known work, this Minnesota-born author explored the unrequited love between a title bootlegger and a married woman. For the point, what Princeton dropout wrestled with the dark side of the American Dream in novels like This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby? | F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| In an action that helped end this nearly eleven month-event, John Thomas used bales of hay to silence the footsteps of his troops. The fortification of Dorchester Heights occurred during this event, which forced one side’s troops to evacuate to Nova Scotia. Trenches were dug around the Neck of this event’s namesake city at the orders of George Washington. The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought during the period of this event, which began after fighting at Lexington and Concord. For the point, name this event whose end is celebrated annually as Evacuation Day. | Siege of Boston |
| This work, based on a novel and play of the same name by Thomas Dixon, chronicles the contentious relationship between the Stonemans and the Camerons. Lillian Gish starred in this controversial epic, the first movie ever shown in the White House. William Monroe Trotter led protests against this work, the first twelve-reel film ever made. Inspired by this national phenomenon, ushers for this film often dressed in white robes, and William J. Simmons was inspired by this work to revive the Ku Klux Klan. For the point, name this 1915 silent film directed by D.W. Griffith. | The Birth of a Nation |
| In this settlement, Edward Maria Wingfield won the first ever election in the New World. In 1861, the land on which this settlement was located was owned by William Allen who invited Catesby ap Roger Jones to build support for the Confederates there. A fleet to resupply this settlement was driven into the Bermuda reefs by George Somers, though on the Day of Providence this settlement was supplied by Thomas West, the Baron De La Warr. Part of the Historic Triangle, for the point, name this colonial capital of Virginia in the 17th century. | Jamestown, Virginia |
| This man’s father was known as the “Lead King” in Virginia and founded the Bank of St. Louis. Despite his initial friendly encounter, this leader wrote that the Karankawa should be exterminated, which incited a massacre at Skull Creek. This leader rebuked Haden Edwards when asked to join the Fredonian Rebellion and instead joined the authorities. This man led the winning side at the Siege of B é xar, where he defeated Santa Anna. For the point, name this man who lost the 1836 presidential election of a former Mexican territory to Samuel Houston. | Stephen F (uller) Austin |
| This act first established the Alien Tort Statute, perhaps enacted in response to the assault on diplomat François Barbé-Marbois. James Iredell and John Blair assumed office following the passage of this act. Oliver Ellsworth authored this act, which established circuit and district courts in 13 districts. This act became the first to be partially invalidated by the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison. For the point, name this 1789 statute that created the Office of Attorney General and the first court system in the United States. | Judiciary Act of 1789 |
| This genre of music had largely disappeared from the nation’s cultural life until a 1970’s revival when E.L. Doctorow published a novel titled for this musical style. Joshua Rifkin released an album of keyboard works written by this genre’s foremost composer, and the 1973 Academy Award for Best Picture was given to a film whose score was filled with pieces from this genre such as “Easy Winners” and “The Entertainer.” For the point, Scott Joplin is best known for his piano pieces in this syncopated musical style that was featured in The Sting | Ragtime |
| This Englishman got his first job in America as a writer and editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. After publishing a rebuttal to Edmund Burke, this man was placed on trial in England despite still being in the colonies. This thinker chastised the “summer soldier” and “sunshine patriot” who do not fight during “the times that try men’s souls.” In addition to The American Crisis, this Englishman authored pamphlets advocating for American independence. For the point, name this author of Common Sense | Thomas Paine |
| A man who thought the participants in this event should receive a “rifle diet” was Pennsylvania executive and former Secretary of War, Thomas Alexander Scott. John Work Garrett was the president of the central company targeted in this event that occurred after participants had their wages cut by 10%. This event began in a town in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and after this event, the Employee Relief Association was created by the “B&O.” Federal troops were called in to deal with this event by Rutherford B. Hayes. For the point, name this 1877 strike. | Great Railroad Strike of 1877 (accept Great Upheaval) |
| This senator was born in Savannah, Georgia, but names a city near Silicon Valley. After being court-martialed and pardoned, this man led a disastrous mission in an effort to find a rail route to San Francisco along the 38th parallel. This man and Kit Carson perpetrated the Klamath Lake Massacre at the suggestion of Thomas Hart Benton. This man lost and retook Springfield, Missouri as commander of the Western Department in 1861. For the point, name this man who spent 25 days as the first president of the California Republic after leading the Bear Flag Revolt. | John C (harles) Freemont |
| One man with this surname was applauded by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage for his solitary opposition to the skirting of ex post facto law at Nuremberg. That man with this surname, known as “Mr. Republican,” was a senator from Ohio when he co-authored the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947 with a representative from New Jersey. That man’s father with this surname served as governor of the Philippines, and Chief Justice, and pursued Dollar Diplomacy during his term as 27th U.S. president. For the point, name this prominent Ohio political family. | Taft (accept William Howard Taft or Robert A (lphonso) Taft, Sr. |
| This person hosted the nationally-televised Young People’s Concerts with the New York Philharmonic. This man also hosted members of the Black Panthers in his Upper West Side apartment, a social event Tom Wolfe dubbed “radical chic.” This Harvard grad wrote a ballet about three sailors on leave in New York City, and despite his Broadway flop, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, collaborated on several hit musicals, including a modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet. For the point, name this composer of Fancy Free and West Side Story. | Leonard Bernstein |
| The contingency that this person was to be offered the position of general was George Washington’s condition before he pledged to take on the role of commander-in-chief in 1798. A minister to Great Britain named Rufus King was this person’s running mate in 1804 and 1808. This person famously declared, “No, not a sixpence!” in his refusal to bribe Charles Talleyrand. This person headed the American delegation in the XYZ Affair as Minister to France. For the point, name this South Carolina statesman and two-time Federalist presidential candidate. | Charles C (otesworth) Pinckney (Note: prompt if middle initial/name are not included. There are 4 significant Charles Pinckneys in 18th century America) |
| A citizen of this state who earned the last Medal of Honor issued in the Indian Wars was Oscar Burkard, who fought in this state’s Battle of Sugar Point. Thirty-eight Dakota men were hanged in this state during Little Crow’s War in 1862. Early settlers in what became this state used hydropower from St. Anthony Falls, earning a city in this state the title “Flour Milling Capital of the World.” Henry Schoolcraft went on a voyage with Michigan Territorial Governor Lewis Cass in 1820 to find the source of the Mississippi in, for the point, what is now this U.S. state | Minnesota |
| At this institution, a mural decorates the Theodore Hesburgh Library, named for the civil rights activist who served as its president for thirty-five years. A notable alumnus of this school became the country’s first female African-American Secretary of State, while a graduate of its law school is the only current Supreme Court justice not to have received their J.D. degree from either Harvard or Yale. For the point, Condoleezza Rice and Amy Coney Barrett attended what Indiana university, graced by Touchdown Jesus and a bright golden dome? | University of Notre Dame du Lac (prompt on “ND”) |
| This amendment was addressed in Presser v. Illinois in which the Supreme Court ruled this amendment did not apply to state regulations. In US v. Miller, the Court based its ruling around this amendment on the difference between an eighteen-inch and twelve-inch version of a certain device. In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court said that this amendment gives citizens the right to use smaller, hand-held devices. For the point, name this amendment that dictates, “The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” | Second Amendment |
| The winning vice-presidential candidate in this election year was a Philadelphia mayor whose “Family Party” engaged in a rivalry with the “Amalgamators.” Another vice-presidential candidate in this year was nicknamed “The Christian Statesman.” Henry Clay lost in this election year during which the inability of the Democratic Party to decide between Lewis Cass and Martin van Buren led to the nomination of the first dark horse candidate. For the point, name this election year in which James Knox Polk was elected president. | |
| Juan Ortega became the first Hispanic man given one of these items, a version of which originally featured a depiction of Minerva fighting off snakes that represented secession. Abraham Lincoln’s Public Resolution 82 allowed these items to be given to sailors. Those given these items are also bestowed a ribbon featuring thirteen white stars against a blue background and are often the subject of a ceremony overseen by the president. For the point, name these awards given for valorous acts, the U.S. military’s highest decoration | Congressional Medal of Honor |
| Before this area was developed by H.J. Whitley, it consisted largely of citrus groves and vineyards. “Poverty Row” was once slang for a string of less-reputable companies on Gower Street in this area. Though this place has no municipal government, Johnny Grant used to appear as its “Honorary Mayor” at public ceremonies. The Capitol Records Building on Vine Street is an iconic building in this neighborhood that has become synonymous with a certain industry. For the point, what neighborhood features Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame? | Hollywood, Los Angeles, California |
| This man claimed that it was impossible to know who is the rightful heir of Adam in a work that refutes the divine right of kings. The line “In the beginning, all the world was America” was stated by this man who wrote the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina while working as an assistant to Lord Ashley, the Earl of Shaftesbury. In a two-part series, property rights were established by this thinker who influenced the Declaration of Independence. For the point, name this English philosopher who wrote Two Treatises of Government. | John Locke |
| The namesake of this city was the commander of a North Carolina brigade before he was killed at Germantown. James Robertson, one of Daniel Boone’s companions, was a co-founder of this city with James Donelson, the father of Andrew Jackson’s wife, Rachel. Belle Meade Plantation formed one side’s headquarters in a battle in this city which was defended by Fort Negley. George Thomas defended this city from John Bell Hood during a campaign named for both this city and Franklin. For the point, name this city, the site of Music Row and Vanderbilt University. | Nashville, Tennessee |
| This location was the target of US Air Force Project A 119 with the help of IIT’s Armour Research Foundation and Leonard Reiffel. An attempt to nuke this location was partially studied by Carl Sagan, and this place was visited by geologist Harrison Schmitt. This location, where the Genesis Rock was retrieved, is also home to the geochemical component, KREEP. For the point, name this location of which John F. Kennedy spoke in a 1962 speech at Rice University in which three times he repeated, “We choose to go to...” this place | The Moon |
| This figure was depicted in Leslie’s Weekly with the caption “What Are You Doing for Preparedness?” A work created by the United States Fuel Administration shows this figure standing over a young man in a tank top who is shoveling coal. An Alfred Leete recruitment poster depicting Horatio Kitchener inspired a well-known depiction of this man that was designed in 1917 by James Montgomery Flagg. That poster includes the famous line, “I want you.” For the point, name this national personification often depicted on World War One recruiting posters | Uncle Sam |
| F. Clifton White led the movement to “draft” this politician, during which time this man led a committee at Suite 3505. Harry Jaffa helped write this man’s nomination acceptance speech which included the line “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.” This man won only his home state and five Southern states during a campaign in which his aggression towards the Soviet Union led to an attack on him in the “Daisy” ad. For the point, name this Arizona senator who was defeated by Lyndon Johnson in the Election of 1964. | Barry Goldwater |
| Debate over the location of this country’s capital sparked the 1842 Archive War. This country’s first vice president, Lorenzo de Zavala, learned English while incarcerated by the Spanish for publishing democratic ideas. Anson Jones, the “Architect of Annexation,” served as president of this country which was recognized as independent after the Treaties of Velasco. This country gained its independence after winning the Battle of San Jacinto, but it lost its independence after it was annexed in 1845. For the point, name this 19th century sovereign state. | Republic of Texas |
| A deputy of this man, Wolf Ladejinsky, oversaw land reform in this man’s occupied territory. This man transformed zaibatsu into the new keiretsu system while serving as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in Japan. The lowest Gallup approval rating ever achieved by a U.S. President came after Harry Truman relieved this general, who addressed Congress with the remark that “old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” For the point, name this five-star general who, in 1942, promised “I shall return” after retreating from the Philippines. | Douglas MacArthur |