1. The “Bluffton Movement” of 1844 is considered a direct precursor to the Civil War. Who was the firebrand politician that led this movement under the “Secession Oak”?
- A) John C. Calhoun
- B) Robert Barnwell Rhett
- C) Andrew Pickens
- D) Wade Hampton III
2. On June 4, 1863, Union forces under General David Hunter carried out the “Burning of Bluffton.” Approximately how much of the town’s residential and commercial structures were destroyed?
- A) 25%
- B) 50%
- C) 75%
- D) 90%
3. The Church of the Cross is a rare example of “Carpenter Gothic” architecture. Which famous Charleston architect designed it in 1854?
- A) Robert Mills
- B) Edward Brickell White
- C) Gabriel Manigault
- D) Charles L’Enfant
4. Before it was known as Bluffton, the high ground along the May River was part of a 1718 land grant. What was the name of this colonial Barony?
- A) Devil’s Elbow Barony
- B) Palmetto Barony
- C) May River Barony
- D) Okatee Barony
5. During the Reconstruction era, Campbell Chapel AME Church became a pillar of the community. In what year did the congregation purchase the building from the white Methodist congregation?
- A) 1865
- B) 1874
- C) 1888
- D) 1901
6. Only eight antebellum structures survived the 1863 burning. Which of these was a “summer cottage” built circa 1841 that now serves as a museum?
- A) The Seven Oaks House
- B) The Heyward House
- C) The Cardillo House
- D) The Squire Pope Carriage House
7. In the early 20th century, the “Bluffton Steamboat Era” was the town’s primary link to the outside world. Which city was the most common destination for the “Clivedon” or the “Pilot Boy” steamers?
- A) Charleston, SC
- B) Savannah, GA
- C) Beaufort, SC
- D) Jacksonville, FL
8. What specific 1842 federal legislation triggered the local outrage that led to the protest under the Secession Oak?
- A) The Fugitive Slave Act
- B) The Black Tariff
- C) The Embargo Act
- D) The Homestead Act
9. The Seven Oaks house (built c. 1850) is one of the few survivors of the Civil War. Why was it spared from the Union torches?
- A) It was used as a Union headquarters during the raid
- B) It was owned by a known Union sympathizer
- C) It was too far from the river to be reached
- D) It was being used as a temporary hospital
10. Before the 1956 bridge to Hilton Head was built, Bluffton was a sleepy fishing village. What was the primary “cash crop” harvested from the May River during the Great Depression?
- A) Blue Crab
- B) Shrimp
- C) Oysters
- D) Shad
✅ Answer Key
| Question | Answer | Historical Context |
| 1 | B | Robert Barnwell Rhett was the “Father of Secession.” |
| 2 | C | 75% of the town was razed to eliminate a “nest of rebels.” |
| 3 | B | Edward Brickell White also designed the steeple of St. Philip’s in Charleston. |
| 4 | A | Devil’s Elbow Barony was the original 24,000-acre grant. |
| 5 | B | Purchased in 1874 for $500. |
| 6 | B | The Heyward House remained in the family until 1998. |
| 7 | B | Savannah was the main trade hub accessible by the May River. |
| 8 | B | The Black Tariff (Tariff of 1842) crippled the Southern export economy. |
| 9 | A | It served as a Union headquarters, though many sources credit its distance from other fires. |
| 10 | C | Oysters; the Bluffton Oyster Co. (est. 1899) saved the local economy. |