Civics 101: American History (U.S. National Park Service)

The four pages of the US Constitution are laid over an image of the pillars and carving on the National Archives building — National Archives

Welcome to the Civics 101 Trivia Game!

Who has the most knowledge of American civics? Test your knowledge or form teams with your friends and keep score. This section covers American history. Have fun and good luck!

A map of North America with points and polygons; a cover image for the interactive data map at BIA.gov — Bureau of Indian Affairs

How many American Indian tribes are currently recognized by the federal government?

The entire United States was tribal land prior to European colonization.

Currently, the federal government recognizes nearly 600 tribes.

View at dusk over the water of the Tidal Basin toward the white domed building of the Jefferson Memorial — Library of Congress/ Carol Highsmith

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and when was it adopted?

Thomas Jefferson was the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence was officially adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial sits on the Tidal Basin of Washington D.C.

Old map showing the original 13 colonies in 1774 — Library of Congress/ McConnel Map Co.

Name five of the 13 original states.(Bonus: name all 13!)

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

New York

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Delaware

Maryland

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

A printed cover page in a book reading "The Federalist: a collection of essays written in favour of the new Constitution, as agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787. In two volumes. Vol 1. New-York: Printed and sold by John Tiebout 1799 — Library of Congress

The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.(Bonus: Name four!)

Alexander Hamilton

James Madison

John Jay

Publius (All three authors published the Federalist Papers in New York newspapers under the pen name Publius.)

Statue of Alexander Hamilton on a pedestal in front of the Treasury building in Washington D.C. — Library of Congress/ Carol Highsmith

Why were the Federalist Papers important?

The Federalist Papers helped people to understand and supported the passing of the new U.S. Constitution.

The full text of the essays are available from the Library of Congress. Published anonymously, most of the essays were written by Alexander Hamilton.

Benjamin Franklin seated at a writing desk working with a quill pen — Library of Congress/ Charles E. Mills

Who was the first Postmaster General?

Appointed in 1775 by the Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster general.

He was also an inventor, diplomat, and founded the first free public libraries.

Map of the United States in 1803, showing the Louisiana Purchase — Library of Congress/ McConnel Map Co.

Which president doubled the size of the United States?

The Louisiana Territory was purchased from France in 1803.

President Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to France to make the purchase.

Black and white photo of the Treasury building with white stairs and stone columns

Left image
Treasury building in 1910
Credit: Library of Congress/ Harris & Ewing

Right image
Treasury building in 1980
Credit: Library of Congress/Carol Highsmith

Who was the first Secretary of the Treasury?

Alexander Hamilton

Close-up of the golden torch of the Statue of Liberty held in the statue's outstretched hand — NPS Photo

What amendment gives citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States?

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868

Close-up of a statue showing Black soldiers in the Civil War on one side, protecting a woman holding a baby on the other. — NPS Photo/ Anthony DeYoung

Which amendment affirms all men have the right to vote?(Bonus: in what year was it passed?)

The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870.

Many Black soldiers served in the Civil War. Their service is commemorated in the African American Civil War Memorial. After the Civil War, pressure increased for the passage of the 15th Amendment.

Alice Paul raises a glass in front of a women's suffrage ratification flag with sewn stars — Library of Congress

Which amendment affirms all women have the right to vote?(Bonus: in what year was it passed?)

The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920.

Activists, like Dr. Alice Paul pictured here, worked for ratification for decades. Part of the history of women's suffrage is preserved at the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument in Washington D.C.

Gallery of images of women's suffrage leaders: Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone — Library of Congress/ NPS

Name one of the leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.(Bonus: name six!)

The story of women's suffrage in the U.S. and the journey to the 19th amendment is remembered in Washington D.C. at the Belmont Paul Women's Equality National Monument.

There were many important suffragists. Here are some key figures (from left to right)

Susan B. Anthony

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Sojourner Truth

Harriet Tubman

Lucretia Mott

Lucy Stone

Statue of Franklin Delano Roosevelt seated in a wheelchair outdoors at the FDR Memorial. — NPS Photo/ Victoria Stauffenberg

Who was president during the Great Depression and World War II?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as president of the United States from 1933 to 1945.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is found on the Tidal Basin of Washington, D.C. The memorial is laid out in five outdoor rooms with statues and quotes representing a prologue and his unprecedented four presidential terms.

Winning four terms in office would never be repeated. In 1951, congress passed the 22nd Amendment to the constitution, limiting a person to two terms in office.

A heavy truck crosses a low ravine on a makeshift wooden bridge. Text hand-written under the photograph reads, "Hoping it will hold." — "Hoping it will hold"
National Archives

Who created the interstate highway system?

During his military career, Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the transcontinental convoy, during which an army convoy crossed the United States. Eisenhower saw fist hand the need for an interstate system in the United States. During World War II, General Eisenhower saw the effect to which the German autobahn system could be used.

During his presidency, Eisenhower established a national highway system. This was a massive public works project, and stimulated the American economy at an important moment.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a black and white photo with the 101st airborne division during WWII on the left and presidential portrait on the right — National Archives

Dwight D. Eisenhower is famous for which two roles of service to America?

Eisenhower served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II and the 34th president of the United States.

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial is south of the National Mall, surrounded by institutions which Eisenhower influenced during his presidential career. These include the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Education, the National Air and Space Museum, and the Voice of America.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. standing on a stage giving a speech to a huge crowd gathered on the National Mall — NPS Photo

From which famous visionary speech is the quote about a time when people will "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

There is a memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Tidal Basin of Washington D.C. The memorial grounds and design recall the line from the "I Have a Dream" speech, "to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope."

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Source: Questions and answers are derived directly from or inspired by the 2020 Version of the Civics Test, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Civics 101: American History