Civics Test for US Citizenship/WI Graduation – Flashcards
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What is the supreme law of the land?
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the Constitution
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What does the Constitution do?
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-sets up the government -defines the government -protects basic rights of Americans
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The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
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"We the People"
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What is an amendment?
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-a change (to the Constitution) -an addition (to the Constitution)
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What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
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the Bill of Rights
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What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
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-speech -religion -assembly -press -petition the government
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How many amendments does the Constitution have?
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twenty-seven (27)
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What did the Decleration of Independence do?
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-announced our independence (from Great Britain) -declared our independence (from Great Britain) -said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
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What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
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-life -liberty -pursuit of happiness
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What is freedom of religion?
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You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
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What is the economics system in the United States?
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-capitalist economy -market economy
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What is the "rule of law"?
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-Everyone must follow the law -Leaders must obey the law -Government must obey the law -No one is above the law
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Name one branch or part of the government
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-Congress -legislative -President -executive -the courts -judicial
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What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
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-checks and balances -separation of powers
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Who is in charge of the executive branch?
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the President
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Who makes federal laws?
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-Congress -Senate and House (of Representatives) -(U.S. or national) legislative
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What are two parts of the U.S. Congress?
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-the Senate and House (of Representatives)
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How many U.S. senators are there?
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one hundred (100)
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We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?
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six (6)
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What is one of your state's U.S. Senators now?
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-Ron Johnson -Tammy Baldwin
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The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
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four hundred thirty-five (435)
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We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
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two (2)
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Name your U.S. Representative
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Mike Gallagher
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Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
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all people of the state
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Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
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-(because of) the state's population -(because) they have more people -(because) some states have more people
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We elect a President for how many years?
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four (4)
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In what month do we vote for President?
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November
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What is the name of the President of the United States now?
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-Donald Trump
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What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
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-Mike Pence
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If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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the Vice President
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If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
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the Speaker of the House
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Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
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the President
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Who signs bills to become law?
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the President
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Who vetoes bills?
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the President
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What does the President's Cabinet do?
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advises the President
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What are two Cabinet-level positions?
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-Secretary of Agriculture -Secretary of Commerce -Secretary of Defense -Secretary of Education -Secretary of Energy -Secretary of Health and Human Services -Secretary of Homeland Security -Secretary of Housing and Urban Development -Secretary of the Interior -Secretary of Labor -Secretary of State -Secretary of Transportation -Secretary of the Treasury -Secretary of Veterans Affairs -Attorney General -Vice President
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What does the judicial branch do?
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-reviews laws -explains laws -resolves disputes (disagreements) -decides if a law goes against the Constitution
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What is the highest court in the United States?
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the Supreme Court
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How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
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nine (9)
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Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
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John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
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-to print money -to declare war -to create an army -to make treaties
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Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
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-provide schooling and education -provide protection (police) -provide safety (fire departments) -give a driver's license -approve zoning and land use
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Who is the Governor of your state now?
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Scott Walker
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What is the capital of your state?
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Madison
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What are the two major political parties in the United States?
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Democratic and Republican
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What is the political party of the President now?
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Republican (Party)
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What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
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Paul Ryan
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There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
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-Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote). -You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote. -Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.) -A male citizen of any race (can vote).
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What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
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-serve on a jury -vote in a federal election
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Name one right only for United States citizens.
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-vote in a federal election -run for federal office
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What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
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-freedom of expression -freedom of speech -freedom of assembly -freedom to petition government -freedom of worship -the right to bear arms
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What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
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-the United States -the flag
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What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
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-give up loyalty to other countries -defend the Constitution and laws of the United States -obey the laws of the United States -serve in the U.S. military (if needed) -serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed) -be loyal to the United States
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How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
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eighteen (18) and older
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What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
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-vote -join a political party -help with a campaign -join a civic group -join a community group -give an elected official your opinion on an issue -call Senators and Representatives -publicly support or oppose an issue or policy -run for office -write to a newspaper
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When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
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April 15
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When must all men register for Selective Service?
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-at age eighteen (18) -between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)
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What is one reason colonists came to America?
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-freedom -political liberty -religious freedom -economic opportunity -practice their religion -escape persecution
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Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
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-American Indians -Native Americans
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What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
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-Africans -people from Africa
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Why did the colonists fight the British?
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-because of high taxes (taxation without representation) -because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering) -because they didn't have self-government
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
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(Thomas) Jefferson
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When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
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July 4, 1776
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There were 13 original states. Name three.
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-New Hampshire -Massachusetts -Rhode Island -Connecticut -New York -New Jersey -Pennsylvania -Delaware -Maryland -Virginia -North Carolina -South Carolina -Georgia
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What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
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-The Constitution was written. -The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
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When was the Constitution written?
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1787
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The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
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-(James) Madison -(Alexander) Hamilton -(John) Jay -Publius
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What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
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-U.S. diplomat -oldest member of the Constitutional Convention -first Postmaster General of the United States -writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac" -started the first free libraries
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Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
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(George) Washington
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Who was the first President?
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(George) Washington
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What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
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-the Louisiana Territory -Louisiana
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Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
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-War of 1812 -Mexican-American War -Civil War -Spanish-American War
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Name the U.S. war between the North and the South
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-the Civil War -the War between the States
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Name one problem that led to the Civil War
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-slavery -economic reasons -states' rights
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What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
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-freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation) -saved (or preserved) the Union -led the United States during the Civil War
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What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
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-freed the slaves -freed slaves in the Confederacy -freed slaves in the Confederate states -freed slaves in most Southern states
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What did Susan B. Anthony do?
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-fought for women's rights -fought for civil rights
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Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s
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-World War I -World War II -Korean War -Vietnam War -(Persian) Gulf War
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Who was President during World War I?
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(Woodrow) Wilson
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Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
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(Franklin) Roosevelt
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Who did the United States fight in World War II?
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Japan, Germany, and Italy
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Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
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World War II
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During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
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Communism
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What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
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civil rights (movement)
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What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
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-fought for civil rights -worked for equality for all Americans
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What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States?
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Terrorists attacked the United States
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Name one American Indian tribe in the United States
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-Menominee -Cherokee -Navajo -Sioux -Chippewa -Choctaw -Pueblo -Apache -Iroquois -Creek -Blackfeet -Seminole -Cheyenne -Arawak -Shawnee -Mohegan -Huron -Oneida -Lakota -Crow -Teton -Hopi -Inuit
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Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States
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-Missouri (River) -Mississippi (River)
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What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
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Pacific (Ocean)
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What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
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Atlantic (Ocean)
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Name one U.S. territory
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-Puerto Rico -U.S. Virgin Islands -American Samoa -Northern Mariana Islands -Guam
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Name one state that borders Canada
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-Maine -New Hampshire -Vermont -New York -Pennsylvania -Ohio -Michigan -Minnesota -North Dakota -Montana -Idaho -Washington -Alaska
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Name one state that borders Mexico
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-California -Arizona -New Mexico -Texas
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What is the capital of the United States?
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Washington, D.C.
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Where is the Statue of Liberty?
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-New York (Harbor) -Liberty Island
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Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
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-because there were 13 original colonies -because the stripes represent the original colonies
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Why does the flag have 50 stars?
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-because there is one star for each state -because each star represents a state -because there are 50 states
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What is the name of the national anthem?
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The Star-Spangled Banner
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When do we celebrate Independence Day?
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July 4
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Name two national U.S. holidays
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-New Year's Day -Martin Luther King, Jr. Day -Presidents' Day -Memorial Day -Independence Day -Labor Day -Columbus Day -Veterans Day -Thanksgiving -Christmas
