Welcome!

Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.

1928 United States presidential election Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

Study Hints Create Teach
Global Score: 0
Trophies: 0 🏆

‹ Back

Score: 0 / 100

Study Guide: The 1928 United States Presidential Election

Cheat Sheet:
The 1928 United States Presidential Election Study Guide

Candidates and Key Figures

Herbert Hoover holds the distinction of being the first United States president born east of the Mississippi River.

Answer: False

Explanation: Herbert Hoover was, in fact, the first president born west of the Mississippi River; he was born in West Branch, Iowa.

Return to Game

Charles Curtis achieved the distinction of being the first Native American vice president.

Answer: True

Explanation: Charles Curtis's nomination and subsequent election as Vice President in 1928 marked a significant milestone, as he became the first individual of Native American ancestry to hold this office.

Return to Game

Charles Curtis was nominated as Hoover's running mate to appeal to farmers concerned about Hoover's pro-business stance.

Answer: True

Explanation: Party leaders extended the vice-presidential nomination to Charles Curtis as a strategic maneuver intended to appeal to agricultural constituencies who harbored concerns regarding Herbert Hoover's predominantly pro-business orientation.

Return to Game

Charles Curtis received only a small fraction of the votes on the Republican vice-presidential ballot.

Answer: False

Explanation: Charles Curtis was nominated for vice president with 1,052 votes, a substantial majority, indicating strong support on the Republican vice-presidential ballot.

Return to Game

Al Smith was the first Roman Catholic nominated by a major party for president.

Answer: True

Explanation: Al Smith's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate in 1928 held significant historical weight, as he was the first Roman Catholic to receive the nomination from a major political party in the United States.

Return to Game

Joseph T. Robinson, Al Smith's running mate, was known for sharing Smith's political views.

Answer: False

Explanation: Joseph Taylor Robinson, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas, was Al Smith's running mate and was considered Smith's political opposite, rather than someone who shared his views.

Return to Game

Joseph Taylor Robinson was nominated for vice president with a narrow majority of votes.

Answer: False

Explanation: Joseph Taylor Robinson was nominated for vice president with 1,035.17 votes, indicating a substantial majority rather than a narrow one.

Return to Game

Who were the main presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the Republican Party in the 1928 election?

Answer: Herbert Hoover and Charles Curtis

Explanation: The Republican Party's ticket for the 1928 presidential election comprised Herbert Hoover for President and Charles Curtis for Vice President.

Return to Game

What historical distinction did Herbert Hoover achieve with his 1928 victory?

Answer: He was the first president born west of the Mississippi River.

Explanation: With his election in 1928, Herbert Hoover attained the historical distinction of being the first United States president to be born west of the Mississippi River, hailing from West Branch, Iowa.

Return to Game

What unique distinction did Charles Curtis achieve with his nomination and election in 1928?

Answer: He was the first Native American vice president.

Explanation: Charles Curtis's nomination and subsequent election as Vice President in 1928 marked a significant milestone, as he became the first individual of Native American ancestry to hold this office.

Return to Game

Why was Charles Curtis offered the vice-presidential nomination by party leaders?

Answer: To attract votes from farmers concerned about Hoover's pro-business stance.

Explanation: Party leaders extended the vice-presidential nomination to Charles Curtis as a strategic maneuver intended to appeal to agricultural constituencies who harbored concerns regarding Herbert Hoover's predominantly pro-business orientation.

Return to Game

What was historically significant about Al Smith's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate?

Answer: He was the first Roman Catholic to gain a major party's nomination for president.

Explanation: Al Smith's nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate in 1928 held significant historical weight, as he was the first Roman Catholic to receive the nomination from a major political party in the United States.

Return to Game

Who was Al Smith's running mate in the 1928 election?

Answer: Joseph T. Robinson

Explanation: Al Smith's running mate for the Democratic ticket in the 1928 presidential election was Joseph T. Robinson, a U.S. Senator from Arkansas.

Return to Game

Party Nominations and Conventions

The Republican presidential nomination was contested in 1928 because the incumbent president sought re-election.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Republican presidential nomination was open in 1928 because the incumbent President, Calvin Coolidge, had announced his decision not to seek a third term, thereby creating an opportunity for other candidates to contend for the party's nomination.

Return to Game

Herbert Hoover, Frank Orren Lowden, and Charles Curtis were key contenders for the Republican presidential nomination.

Answer: True

Explanation: Prior to Herbert Hoover solidifying his position as the frontrunner, the primary contenders for the Republican presidential nomination included former Illinois Governor Frank Orren Lowden and Senate Majority Leader Charles Curtis.

Return to Game

Frank Orren Lowden withdrew his candidacy after the Republican convention adopted a platform supporting the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill.

Answer: False

Explanation: Frank Orren Lowden withdrew his candidacy from the Republican presidential nomination race as a form of protest following the Republican convention's decision to repudiate the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill, an agricultural policy he supported.

Return to Game

The 1928 Republican National Convention was held in Houston, Texas.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 1928 Republican National Convention, where Herbert Hoover was nominated, convened in Kansas City, Missouri.

Return to Game

Herbert Hoover secured the Republican presidential nomination on the first ballot with a significant majority.

Answer: True

Explanation: Herbert Hoover secured the Republican presidential nomination decisively on the first ballot at the convention, achieving a substantial majority of the votes cast.

Return to Game

The 1928 Democratic National Convention was held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 1928 Democratic National Convention, where Al Smith was nominated, took place in Houston, Texas.

Return to Game

Al Smith secured the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot.

Answer: True

Explanation: Al Smith secured the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at the convention, receiving 849.19 votes, which was well over the required majority.

Return to Game

Why was the Republican presidential nomination open in 1928?

Answer: The incumbent president chose not to run for re-election.

Explanation: The Republican presidential nomination was open in 1928 because the incumbent President, Calvin Coolidge, had announced his decision not to seek a third term, thereby creating an opportunity for other candidates to contend for the party's nomination.

Return to Game

Who were the main contenders for the Republican presidential nomination before Herbert Hoover became the frontrunner?

Answer: Herbert Hoover, Frank Orren Lowden, and Charles Curtis

Explanation: Prior to Herbert Hoover solidifying his position as the frontrunner, the primary contenders for the Republican presidential nomination included former Illinois Governor Frank Orren Lowden and Senate Majority Leader Charles Curtis.

Return to Game

What led to Frank Orren Lowden withdrawing his candidacy for the Republican nomination?

Answer: He withdrew in protest after the convention repudiated the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill.

Explanation: Frank Orren Lowden withdrew his candidacy from the Republican presidential nomination race as a form of protest following the Republican convention's decision to repudiate the McNary-Haugen Farm Relief Bill, an agricultural policy he supported.

Return to Game

Where was the 1928 Republican National Convention held?

Answer: Kansas City, Missouri

Explanation: The 1928 Republican National Convention, where Herbert Hoover was nominated, convened in Kansas City, Missouri.

Return to Game

How was Herbert Hoover nominated for president at the Republican convention?

Answer: He was nominated on the first ballot with a significant majority of votes.

Explanation: Herbert Hoover secured the Republican presidential nomination decisively on the first ballot at the convention, achieving a substantial majority of the votes cast.

Return to Game

Where was the 1928 Democratic National Convention held?

Answer: Houston, Texas

Explanation: The 1928 Democratic National Convention, where Al Smith was nominated, took place in Houston, Texas.

Return to Game

Campaign Dynamics and Issues

The Democratic Party had high hopes for the 1928 election due to the nation's economic challenges.

Answer: False

Explanation: Contrary to the statement, the Democratic Party's prospects were considered dim. The nation's economic prosperity during the 1920s, often associated with Republican leadership, diminished the party's perceived advantage.

Return to Game

Al Smith's campaign was negatively impacted by his strong support for Prohibition.

Answer: False

Explanation: Al Smith's opposition to Prohibition, a reform favored by many Protestants, cost him votes, particularly in areas where Prohibition was a strong issue. His support for it was not strong.

Return to Game

Anti-Catholic sentiment was a minor issue and did not significantly impact Al Smith's campaign.

Answer: False

Explanation: Anti-Catholic sentiment was a profoundly significant and detrimental factor in Al Smith's campaign, with many Protestant voters harboring fears regarding papal influence and the compatibility of Catholicism with American democracy. Scholarly analysis posits it as the primary reason for his defeat.

Return to Game

Protestant groups expressed concerns that Al Smith would take orders from the Pope.

Answer: True

Explanation: Concerns among Protestant groups included fears that Al Smith would take orders from the Pope, that the Catholic Church opposed the separation of church and state, and that Catholicism was incompatible with American democracy.

Return to Game

Al Smith's support for Prohibition was popular among many Protestant voters.

Answer: False

Explanation: Al Smith's opposition to Prohibition, a reform favored by many Protestants, cost him votes, particularly in areas where Prohibition was a strong issue. His support for it was not strong.

Return to Game

William Allen White warned that Smith's Catholicism would uphold America's traditional moral standards.

Answer: False

Explanation: William Allen White, a renowned newspaper editor, warned that Smith's Catholicism would erode America's moral standards and threatened the "Puritan civilization" that built the nation, rather than upholding them.

Return to Game

Herbert Hoover privately defended the right of Protestants to vote against Smith based on religious beliefs.

Answer: True

Explanation: While Hoover generally avoided directly raising the issue of anti-Catholicism, he privately acknowledged and defended the right of Protestants to vote against Smith based on their religious beliefs, stating it was not persecution.

Return to Game

Which of the following factors contributed to Herbert Hoover's victory in 1928?

Answer: The association of the Republican Party with the prosperous economy of the 1920s.

Explanation: Herbert Hoover's victory was significantly bolstered by the prevailing perception of economic prosperity during the 1920s, which was largely attributed to Republican governance. This contrasted with challenges faced by Al Smith, such as anti-Catholic sentiment and his stance on Prohibition.

Return to Game

What significant statement did Herbert Hoover make in his acceptance speech that later drew criticism?

Answer: "Poverty will be banished from this land with the help of God."

Explanation: In his acceptance speech, Herbert Hoover famously declared, "Poverty will be banished from this land with the help of God." This optimistic assertion later became a point of significant criticism and irony in light of the severe economic downturn of the Great Depression that followed his presidency.

Return to Game

Which issue negatively impacted Al Smith's campaign, stemming from his religious background?

Answer: Anti-Catholic sentiment among Protestant voters.

Explanation: The pervasive anti-Catholic sentiment among Protestant voters significantly undermined Al Smith's campaign, creating a substantial barrier directly linked to his religious affiliation.

Return to Game

What was the vote percentage for the Socialist Party in the 1928 election, and how did it compare to previous years?

Answer: It sank to 267,478 votes, a significant decrease.

Explanation: The Socialist Party's vote share in the 1928 election experienced a significant decline, registering only 267,478 votes. This represented a considerable decrease compared to their performance in previous presidential elections.

Return to Game

Which of the following was NOT a factor contributing to Al Smith's challenges in the 1928 election?

Answer: His strong support from rural Protestant voters

Explanation: Al Smith's campaign faced significant challenges, including anti-Catholic sentiment, his opposition to Prohibition, and his association with Tammany Hall. Strong support from rural Protestant voters was not a challenge; rather, the lack thereof due to religious prejudice was a key issue.

Return to Game

Election Results and Analysis

The 1928 United States presidential election was secured by the Democratic Party ticket.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 1928 election was won by the Republican ticket of Herbert Hoover and Charles Curtis, not the Democratic ticket of Al Smith and Joseph T. Robinson.

Return to Game

The 1928 election marked the last Republican presidential victory until 1952.

Answer: True

Explanation: The 1928 election represented the final Republican presidential victory for a considerable period, with the party not achieving the presidency again until Dwight D. Eisenhower's election in 1952.

Return to Game

The 1928 United States presidential election took place on November 11, 1928.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 1928 United States presidential election was held on November 6, 1928, a date consistent with federal election practices.

Return to Game

Scott Farris argued that economic factors, not religion, were the primary reason for Al Smith's defeat.

Answer: False

Explanation: Scott Farris's analysis posits that anti-Catholicism was the singular and primary determinant of Al Smith's defeat, even overshadowing issues like Prohibition.

Return to Game

Hoover won states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas, which had been Democratic strongholds since Reconstruction.

Answer: True

Explanation: Herbert Hoover's victory included several states in the traditionally Democratic Solid South, such as Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. This represented a significant realignment in American political geography, indicating a weakening of Democratic dominance in these regions.

Return to Game

Al Smith won historically Republican states like California and Ohio.

Answer: False

Explanation: Al Smith managed to win Massachusetts and Rhode Island, states that had typically voted Republican in presidential elections. He did not win California or Ohio.

Return to Game

Herbert Hoover won 444 electoral votes compared to Al Smith's 87 electoral votes.

Answer: True

Explanation: The electoral vote distribution in the 1928 presidential election heavily favored the Republican ticket, with Herbert Hoover securing 444 electoral votes compared to Al Smith's 87 electoral votes.

Return to Game

Herbert Hoover received approximately 58.11% of the popular vote in the 1928 election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Herbert Hoover garnered approximately 58.11% of the total popular vote in the 1928 presidential election, indicating a substantial mandate from the electorate.

Return to Game

Jackson County, Kentucky, recorded the highest percentage of the vote for Al Smith.

Answer: False

Explanation: Jackson County, Kentucky, recorded the highest percentage of the vote for Herbert Hoover at 96.52%, not Al Smith.

Return to Game

The total popular vote cast in the 1928 election exceeded 40 million.

Answer: False

Explanation: The total popular vote cast in the 1928 United States presidential election amounted to 36,807,012 ballots, which is below 40 million.

Return to Game

Hoover carrying Texas for the first time was a minor event, as Texas was a swing state.

Answer: False

Explanation: Hoover carrying Texas marked a significant shift in the political landscape, as it was the first time a Republican presidential candidate had won the state, highlighting the Republican Party's inroads into the traditionally Democratic South. Texas was not considered a swing state at that time.

Return to Game

Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee flipped from Republican to Democratic in the 1928 election.

Answer: False

Explanation: Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee flipped from Democratic to Republican in the 1928 election, indicating a shift in allegiance, not the other way around.

Return to Game

Wisconsin flipped from Progressive to Republican in the 1928 election.

Answer: True

Explanation: Wisconsin did indeed flip from Progressive to Republican affiliation in the 1928 presidential election, reflecting broader political trends of the era.

Return to Game

Illinois was the tipping point state in the 1928 election, with Hoover winning it by a narrow margin of 1.5%.

Answer: False

Explanation: Illinois was the tipping point state in the 1928 election, but Herbert Hoover won it by a margin of 14.65%, not 1.5%.

Return to Game

What was the outcome of the 1928 United States presidential election?

Answer: Herbert Hoover and Charles Curtis won the presidency.

Explanation: The outcome of the 1928 United States presidential election was a decisive victory for the Republican ticket, with Herbert Hoover and Charles Curtis winning the presidency against the Democratic nominees, Al Smith and Joseph T. Robinson.

Return to Game

On what date was the 1928 United States presidential election held?

Answer: November 6, 1928

Explanation: The 1928 United States presidential election took place on November 6, 1928. This date is standard for federal elections in the United States.

Return to Game

How many electoral votes were required to win the presidency in 1928?

Answer: 266

Explanation: To secure the presidency in the 1928 election, a candidate needed to obtain a majority of the electoral votes, which amounted to 266 out of the total 531 available.

Return to Game

How did the voter turnout in the 1928 election compare to the previous election?

Answer: It increased by 8.0 percentage points.

Explanation: Voter turnout in the 1928 election saw a notable increase, rising by 8.0 percentage points compared to the preceding presidential election, indicating heightened civic engagement.

Return to Game

According to Scott Farris, what was the primary reason for Al Smith's defeat in the 1928 election?

Answer: Anti-Catholicism.

Explanation: Scott Farris's scholarly analysis posits that anti-Catholicism was the singular and primary determinant of Al Smith's electoral defeat in the 1928 presidential election.

Return to Game

Which historically Democratic states did Herbert Hoover win in 1928, marking a significant shift?

Answer: Florida, North Carolina, and Texas

Explanation: Herbert Hoover's victory included several states in the traditionally Democratic Solid South, such as Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. This represented a significant realignment in American political geography, indicating a weakening of Democratic dominance in these regions.

Return to Game

Which states did Al Smith win in 1928 that were typically Republican strongholds?

Answer: Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Explanation: Al Smith managed to win Massachusetts and Rhode Island, states that had historically been considered Republican strongholds in presidential elections. He did not win California or Ohio.

Return to Game

What was the electoral vote distribution between Hoover and Smith in the 1928 election?

Answer: Hoover 444, Smith 87

Explanation: The electoral vote distribution in the 1928 presidential election heavily favored the Republican ticket, with Herbert Hoover securing 444 electoral votes compared to Al Smith's 87 electoral votes.

Return to Game

Herbert Hoover received approximately what percentage of the popular vote in 1928?

Answer: 58.11%

Explanation: Herbert Hoover garnered approximately 58.11% of the total popular vote in the 1928 presidential election, indicating a substantial mandate from the electorate.

Return to Game

Which state served as the tipping point in the 1928 election, and by what margin did Hoover win it?

Answer: Illinois, with a margin of 14.65%

Explanation: Illinois is identified as the tipping point state in the 1928 election, with Herbert Hoover winning it by a margin of 14.65%, underscoring the breadth of his victory.

Return to Game

Which of the following states flipped from Democratic to Republican in the 1928 election?

Answer: Tennessee

Explanation: Tennessee was among several states that shifted allegiance from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in the 1928 presidential election, indicating a significant political realignment in the South.

Return to Game

What was the margin of victory for Herbert Hoover in Massachusetts?

Answer: 1.09%

Explanation: Herbert Hoover secured victory in Massachusetts by a narrow margin of 1.09%, classifying it as one of the closely contested states in the 1928 presidential election.

Return to Game

What was the primary reason cited by Scott Farris for Al Smith's defeat?

Answer: Anti-Catholic prejudice

Explanation: Scott Farris's scholarly assessment identifies anti-Catholic prejudice as the primary and decisive factor contributing to Al Smith's defeat in the 1928 presidential election.

Return to Game

How many electoral votes did Al Smith win in the 1928 election?

Answer: 87

Explanation: Al Smith secured 87 electoral votes in the 1928 presidential election, a significantly smaller share compared to his opponent, Herbert Hoover.

Return to Game

What was the total popular vote cast in the 1928 election?

Answer: 36,807,012

Explanation: The total popular vote cast in the 1928 United States presidential election amounted to 36,807,012 ballots.

Return to Game

Which of the following parishes/counties recorded 100.00% of the vote for Al Smith?

Answer: Both B and C

Explanation: Jackson Parish in Louisiana and Armstrong County in South Dakota both registered 100.00% of their respective votes for Al Smith, indicating exceptionally strong support in these specific localities.

Return to Game