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New American citizens take the oath of citizenship at a ceremony in Los Angeles, California, in 2018.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
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U.S. Citizenship Quiz
Could you pass the U.S. citizenship test?
Being born in the United States makes you a U.S. citizen. But immigrants have to apply to become U.S. citizens. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants earn American citizenship each year.
Becoming a U.S. citizen is a long process. One of the final steps is passing a test about American government, history, and holidays.
How well would you do? Find out by answering the questions below. They are similar to the ones asked on the actual citizenship test. Good luck!
What is “the supreme law of the land”?
the U.S. Constitution
the Supreme Court
the Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Constitution set up the U.S. government and outlines the rights of the American people. The Constitution was signed in 1787, 11 years after the American Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain.
We elect a president for how many years?
two years
four years
six years
People in the U.S. vote for president every four years. A person can be elected president only twice.
True or False: The two parts of the U.S. Congress are the Senate and the Supreme Court.
True
False
False: The two parts of the U.S. Congress are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Together they make up the legislative, or lawmaking, branch of the U.S. government. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It is part of the judicial branch.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in U.S. history. It announced that the 13 Colonies were free from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson is considered to be the main author, but he had help from other Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
There were 13 original states. Which of these was NOT one of them?
Delaware
South Carolina
Florida
Delaware became the first state after it ratified, or approved, the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Over the next few years, it was followed by the other 12 original states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845.
What was the name of the U.S. war between the North and the South?
the Revolutionary War
the War of 1812
the Civil War
The Civil War began in April 1861, after several Southern states seceded, or broke away, from the United States. They formed the Confederate States of America, also known as the Confederacy. The Northern states were called the Union. The war ended after the Confederacy surrendered in April 1865.
In which year were women in the U.S. granted the right to vote?
1791
1865
1920
Officially approved in 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted suffrage, or the right to vote, to women throughout the United States.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
New York Harbor
Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Statue of Lady Liberty was a gift of friendship from France. It has stood on Liberty Island in New York Harbor since 1886.
What is the name of the national anthem?
“The Star-Spangled Banner”
“America the Beautiful”
“God Bless America”
A lawyer named Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the War of 1812. On September 13, 1814, he watched as U.S. troops defended Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, against a British attack. Key was inspired to write a poem, which was later turned into a song and renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.
Which of the following are both national holidays in the U.S.?
Memorial Day and Labor Day
Memorial Day and Mother’s Day
Election Day and Thanksgiving
National holidays are also known as federal holidays. On these days, federal government buildings are closed, and federal employees, such as postal workers, get a day off of work. Many schools and businesses also close on national holidays.
On Memorial Day, we honor and mourn the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day was first declared a federal holiday by Congress in 1971 and is observed on the last Monday in May.
Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday in September, honors all workers. It became a national holiday in 1894.