Final Jeopardy: The Civil War (2-28-20)

Today’s Final Jeopardy question (2/28/2020) in the category “The Civil War” was:

The Chicago Tribune called Clement Vallandigham, an anti-war Ohio Dem., a “traitor” & a “hissing” one of these creatures

New champ Aaron Goetsch, a law student from Macomb, MI, won $24,800 yesterday. In Game 2, he is up against: Susan Hill, a pet sitter from Halifax, MA; and Meredith Moore, a server from Knightdale, NC.

Round 1 Categories: Art, Fleming – Sports Upsets – Explorers – Spell It Like the Brits – We Can Be Heroes – Just for One Day

Aaron found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Just for One Day” under the $400 clue on the 9th pick of the round. He had $2,800 to $0 for both challengers. He made it a true Daily Double and thought it might be Thursday. That was WRONG.

Traditionally, this is the first full day of the Paschal Triduum, leading up to Easter. show

WHAT IS GOOD FRIDAY?

Aaron finished in the lead with $5,400. Susan was second with $1,800 and Meredith was last with $600.

Round 2 Categories: Historic People on TV – Body Parts – Higher Education Geography – Transportation – Starts & Ends With B – Monsters Ink

Aaron found the first Daily Double in “Higher Education Geography” under the $1,600 clue on the 12th pick. He was in the lead with $6,600 at this point, $1,200 more than Susan in second place. He bet $4,000 and he was RIGHT.

Founded in 1853, Washington University isn’t in D.C. or Washington State but in this city on the Mississippi River. show

WHAT IS ST. LOUIS?

Susan found the last Daily Double in “Transportation” under the $1,600 clue, with just the “Body Parts” category left after it. In second place with $11,000, she had $3,200 less than Aaron’s lead. She bet $2,500 and went with Conestoga. That was WRONG.

The vehicle of choice on the Oregon Trail was this wagon with a type of flat land in its name. show

WHAT IS A PRAIRIE SCHOONER?

Aaron finished in the lead with $16,600. Susan was next with $8,500 and Meredith was in third place with $7,000.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHAT IS COPPERHEAD?

Ohio politician Clement Vallandigham was the de facto leader of the Copperhead faction of the Democrat Party. They opposed war with the South and were also known as Peace Democrats. Vallandigham’s stance really did not work out well for him. He was arrested for anti-war speech that violated Gen. Ambrose Burnside’s General Order Number 38, convicted and thrown out of the North. Read all about it at Ohio History Central.

His downfall was predicted in a Chicago Tribune editorial: “The infamous Vallandigham will be one of the first fruits of the Burnside order. This hissing Copperhead is evidently desirous of martrydom….” (“Words at War” (2008), p. 195)

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Meredith got descriptive with “snake in the grass.” She lost her $1,800 bet and finished with $5,200.

Susan simply went with “snake.” That cost her $1,500 and left her with $7,000.

Aaron got it right. He bet $401 and won the game with $17,001. His 2-day total is $41,801.

A triple stumper from each round:

WE CAN BE HEROES ($1000) An outstanding chef & an outstanding human, he & his team served 3.6 million meals to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

HISTORIC PEOPLE ON TV ($2000) Robin Weigert played this alcoholic Old West frontierswoman on “Deadwood”

More clues on Page 2

2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “Sports Team Mascots”

Echoing a rock band with 8 platinum albums, the teams of the Ark. School for the Deaf are named for this animal. show

WHAT IS A LEOPARD?

Click here to leave well wishes and prayers for Alex Trebek for continuing success in his battle against cancer. There’s also a link to where you can make a donation to pancreatic cancer research in his honor.