How well do you remember those U.S. history lessons?
If you’re like me, I don’t remember those intricate details necessary to receive my U.S. citizenship. Luckily I don’t have to pass the test now in effect for those who are seeking citizenship.
Out of curiosity I tried to answer the questions the New York Times used in its recent story about the new citizenry test questions.
Below are 10 questions. How many of these could you answer without using Google?
1.) James Madison is famous for many things. Name one.
President during the War of 1812;
Fifth president of the United States;
Writer of the Declaration of Independence;
First Secretary of State.
2.) The American Revolution had many important events. Name one.
Washington crossing the Delaware;
Battle of Tippecanoe;
Battle of Fort Niagara;
The Treaty of Ghent.
3.) What is the purpose of the 10th Amendment?
It guarantees the rights of criminal defendants;
It states that the powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or to the people;
It abolished slavery;
It prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
4.) Whom does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
People living in their state;
People living in their congressional district;
Citizens in their congressional district;
Their political party.
5.) Who appoints federal judges?
The Chief Justice;
Senate;
President;
Attorney general.
6.) How many Supreme Court justices are usually needed to decide a case?
four;
five;
six;
nine.
7.) The Civil War had many important events. Name one.
The Missouri Compromise;
the Trail of Tears;
the Battle of Little Bighorn;
Sherman’s March.
8.) Name one leader of the women’s rights movement in the 1800s.
Clara Barton;
Eleanor Roosevelt;
Mary Baker Eddy;
Sojourner Truth.
9.) The Nation’s first motto was “E Pluribus Unum.” What does that mean?
We the People;
Self-government;
One from of many;
One nation, indivisible.
10.) What is the form of government of the United States?
Democracy;
Monarchy;
Aristocracy;
Oligarchy.
Do you feel confident you answered at least six correctly?
New citizens need to answer 12 out of 20 questions correctly.
Answers to the previous questions are:
1.) James Madison was president from 1809 to 1817 and was our nation’s leader during the War of 1812.
2.) George Washington crossing the Delaware River occurred Christmas Day 1776, bolstering troop morale to eventually defeat the British.
3.) The Tenth Amendment states “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
4.) U.S. House of Representatives represent people living in their congressional district, which averages 700,000 people.
5.) The president appoints a federal judge with the Senate confirming the decision.
6.) Four of the nine Supreme Court judges are needed for the court to review a case and five out of the nine are needed to overturn the lower court’s decision.
7.) Sherman’s March occurred in 1864 and eventually brought the Confederacy’s surrender in the Civil War.
8.) Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was the women’s rights activist.
9.) E Pluribus Unum means “out of many, one.”
10.) The United States is a democracy — government by the whole population.
As U.S. citizens, we all should be able to answer those questions about our history and our Constitution correctly and not just guess.