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1. What are the four main influences Henry Adams describes in the first chapter, "Quincy"?

Henry Adams' main influences are his elite birth, a serious case of Scarlet Fever, the start of his formal education, and the changing seasons.

2. Why is Charles Sumner a hero to Henry Adams?

Henry Adams considers Charles Sumner to be a hero because he is a great orator and a success in Europe. Sumner is not welcome in Boston because of his political views, but Henry Adams still looks up to him.

3. When Henry Adams visits the South in "Washington", how does he describe it?

When Henry Adams visits the South he says it is ragged and poor. He thinks that because of slavery, it is the sum of all wickedness. Yet at the same time, he finds something appealing about the South.

4. What happened to Henry Adams' political biases at Harvard?

Henry Adams' political biases were weakened at Harvard. This happened because Harvard had no biases or strong opinions. Henry Adams says that Harvard was a "negative force".

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