American Civics Prep

Colonial Period and Independence

The 17 official questions on Colonial Period and Independence — numbers 73–89 of the 128-question bank for the 2025 civics test — with every accepted answer. At the interview the officer asks up to 20 questions from the full bank; 12 correct passes, and the officer stops at 12 right or 9 wrong.

  1. The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.

    • Freedom
    • Political liberty
    • Religious freedom
    • Economic opportunity
    • Escape persecution

  2. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

    • American Indians
    • Native Americans

  3. What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?

    • Africans
    • People from Africa

  4. What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?

    • American Revolution
    • The (American) Revolutionary War
    • War for (American) Independence

  5. Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.

    • High taxes
    • Taxation without representation
    • British soldiers stayed in Americans' houses (boarding, quartering)
    • They did not have self-government
    • Boston Massacre
    • Boston Tea Party (Tea Act)
    • Stamp Act
    • Sugar Act
    • Townshend Acts
    • Intolerable (Coercive) Acts

  6. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

    • (Thomas) Jefferson

  7. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

    • July 4, 1776

  8. The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.

    • (Battle of) Bunker Hill
    • Declaration of Independence
    • Washington Crossing the Delaware (Battle of Trenton)
    • (Battle of) Saratoga
    • Valley Forge (Encampment)
    • (Battle of) Yorktown (British surrender at Yorktown)

  9. There were 13 original states. Name five.

    • New Hampshire
    • Massachusetts
    • Rhode Island
    • Connecticut
    • New York
    • New Jersey
    • Pennsylvania
    • Delaware
    • Maryland
    • Virginia
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Georgia

  10. What founding document was written in 1787?

    • (U.S.) Constitution

  11. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

    • (James) Madison
    • (Alexander) Hamilton
    • (John) Jay
    • Publius

  12. Why were the Federalist Papers important?

    • They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution
    • They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution

  13. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

    • Founded the first free public libraries
    • First Postmaster General of the United States
    • Helped write the Declaration of Independence
    • Inventor
    • U.S. diplomat

  14. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

    • "Father of Our Country"
    • First president of the United States
    • General of the Continental Army
    • President of the Constitutional Convention

  15. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

    • Writer of the Declaration of Independence
    • Third president of the United States
    • Doubled the size of the United States (Louisiana Purchase)
    • First Secretary of State
    • Founded the University of Virginia
    • Writer of the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom

  16. James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.

    • "Father of the Constitution"
    • Fourth president of the United States
    • President during the War of 1812
    • One of the writers of the Federalist Papers

  17. Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one.

    • First Secretary of the Treasury
    • One of the writers of the Federalist Papers
    • Helped establish the First Bank of the United States
    • Aide to General George Washington
    • Member of the Continental Congress

Last verified against USCIS on .