8th Grade Civics Test

​8th Grade Civics Test

By Noel Sosa

Multiple Choice

Q1: Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

• Chinese

• Russians

• Pacific Islanders

• Native Americans

Indigenous Tribes

• Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the Americas.

• They arrived over 15,000-20,000 years ago via the land bridge called Beringia during the Ice Age.

Multiple Choice

Q2: Who was the first President?

• John Hancock

• James Madison

• Benjamin Franklin

• George Washington

George Washington

 Washington did not really want to be president

After winning the Revolutionary War and helping set up the new government for his country at the Constitutional Convention George Washington's thoughts turned away from battlefields and assembly halls to a much more modest arena-- his home at his Mount Vernon estate -- and the opportunity of "living and dying a private citizen on my own farm."

Multiple Choice

Q3: What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

• Led the U.S. during the Civil War

• Led the U.S. during the War of 1812

• Led the U.S. during the American Revolution

• Led the U.S. during the Mexican American War

Abraham Lincoln

He led the United States through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery.

Multiple Choice

Q4: When do we celebrate Independence Day?

• April 19

• July 4

• September 17

• November 11

Declaring Independence

The holiday celebrates the Second Continental Congress' unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document announcing the colonies' separation from Great Britain.

Multiple Choice

Q5: Who is the "Father of Our Country"?

• Abraham Lincoln

• Thomas Jefferson

• Benjamin Franklin

• George Washington

George Washington

George Washington's critical role during the Revolutionary War, Constitutional Convention, and his two terms as the first President of the United States led to him eventually receiving the informal title, "Father of His Country."

Multiple Choice

Q6: What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

• Arctic Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

Multiple Choice

Q7: What did Martin Luther King Jr. do?

• Fought for Civil Rights

• Became the first black U.S. Senator

• Establish the Harvard Law School

• Ran for President of the United States

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Baptist minister and social rights activist in the United States in the 1950s and '60s. He was a leader of the American civil rights movement. He organized a number of peaceful protests as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Multiple Choice

Q8: Which of the following is one of the two longest rivers in the U.S.?

• Ohio River

• Potomac River

• Colorado River

• Mississippi River

U.S. Rivers

1. Missouri (2,540 miles)

2. Mississippi (2,340 miles)

3. Yukon (1,980 miles)

4. Rio Grande (1,900 miles)

5. St. Lawrence River-Great Lakes System (1,900 miles)

Multiple Choice

Q9: What do we show loyalty to when saying the Pledge of Allegiance?

• The state where you live

• The United States of America

• The Declaration of Independence

• The President of the U.S.

Multiple Choice

Q10: Why did the colonists fight the British?

• Because of high taxes

• Because the British were invading France

• Because the colonists wanted a new king

• Because the colonists wanted religious freedom

The American Revolution

By the 1770s, many colonists were angry because they did not have self-government. This meant that they could not govern themselves and make their own laws. They had to pay high taxes to the king. They felt that they were paying taxes to a government where they had no representation.

Multiple Choice

Q11: Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

• James Madison

• Abraham Lincoln

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson is considered the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, although Jefferson's draft went through a process of revision by his fellow committee members and the Second Continental Congress.

Multiple Choice

Q12: Which of the following is an American Indian tribe in the United States?

• Huli

• Kikuyu

• Maori

• Navajo

Multiple Choice

Q13: Why does the American flag have 13 stripes?

• They represent the original 13 colonies

• They represent the 13 signatures on the U.S. Constitution

• They represent the 13 military heroes of the Revolutionary War

The U.S. Flag

• The stripes represent the original 13 Colonies

• The stars represent the 50 states of the Union.

• The colors of the flag are symbolic as well;

  • red symbolizes hardiness and valor

  • white symbolizes purity and innocence

  • blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Multiple Choice

Q14: Why does the American flag have 50 stars?

• One star for each state

• One star for each president

• One star for each original colony

• One star for each Constitutional amendment

Multiple Choice

Q15: What is the name of the national anthem?

• God Bless the U.S.A.

• America the Beautiful

• My Country Tis of Thee

• The Star-Spangled Banner

National Anthem

To celebrate their victory over British forces during the War of 1812, U.S. soldiers raised a large American flag at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 14, 1814.

Poet Francis Scott Key was inspired by seeing the flag after witnessing the fort’s bombardment. He wrote a poem called "Defence of Fort M'Henry." This eventually became the Star-Spangled Banner and the United States national anthem.

Multiple Choice

Q16: Which of the following includes two national U.S. holidays?

• Columbus Day and Flag Day

• Labor Day and Veterans Day

• Memorial Day and Mother's Day

• Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving Day

• Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)

• Independence Day (July 4)

• Labor Day (First Monday in September)

• Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)

• Veterans Day (November 11)

• Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)

• Christmas Day (December 25)

• New Year's Day (January 1)

• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January)

• Inauguration Day (January 20, every 4 years following a presidential election)

• Washington's Birthday (Also known as Presidents Day; third Monday in February)

• Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)

National Holidays

Multiple Choice

Q17: What is one reason colonists came to America?

• Education

• Better Health

• Elect a new King

• Religious Freedom

European Colonization

In the 1600s and 1700s, Europeans came to North America looking for religious freedom, economic opportunities, and political liberty. They created 13 colonies on the East Coast of the continent. Later, when the colonists won independence, these colonies became the 13 original states.

Multiple Choice

Q18: What was the name of the U.S. war between the North and the South?

• Civil War

• World War II

• War of 1812

• Revolutionary War

The Civil War

The Civil War began in 1861 and was America's bloodiest and most divisive conflict, pitting the Union Army against the Confederate States of America. The war resulted in the deaths of more than 620,000 people, with millions more injured and the South left in ruins.

Multiple Choice

Q19: Which of the following reasons led to the Civil War?

• Taxes

• Slavery

• Oil Rights

• Religious freedom

Causes of the Civil War

The Civil War in the United States began in 1861, after decades of simmering tensions between northern and southern states over slavery, states’ rights and westward expansion. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America; four more states soon joined them.

Multiple Choice

Q20: What did Susan B. Anthony do?

• Founded the red cross

• Fought for women's rights

• Made the first American flag

• Established a college for women

Women's Suffrage

Susan B. Anthony, an American women's rights activist, devoted her life to racial, gender, and educational equality. One of the most famous women in American history, she played a prominent role in the women's suffrage movement; the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, is named in her honor.

Multiple Choice

Q21: Where is the Statue of Liberty?

• Boston, MA.

• New York, NY

• Washington, DC

• San Francisco, CA

A Gift to America

French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi supported de Laboulaye's idea and in 1870 began designing the statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World."This monument would honor the United States' centennial of independence and the friendship with France

Multiple Choice

Q22: What is the last day that you can send in federal income tax forms?

• April 15

• June 30

• September 15

• December 31

Multiple Choice

Q23:Who did the United States fight in WWII?

• Japan, Germany, and Italy

• Japan, Germany, and France

• Russian, China, and Japan

• Russia, France, and Great Britain

• Germany

• Japan

• Italy

​Axis Powers

• United States

• United Kingdom

• Soviet Union (Russia)

• China

​Allied Powers

WWII

Multiple Choice

Q24: Which of the following wars was fought by the United States in the 1800s?

• Korean war

• World War I

• Spanish-American War

• French and Indian War

Spanish-American War

The Spanish–American War was fought between Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the U.S. acquiring sovereignty over Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and establishing a protectorate over Cuba.

Multiple Choice

Q25: What does the Judicial Branch do?

• Amends the Constitution and overturns laws

• Decides if a law goes against the Constitution

• Stipulates the number of Supreme Court Justices

• Provides legal advice to the President and his staff

Multiple Choice

Q26: Who is in charge of the Executive Branch?

• The President

• The Chief Justice

• The Majority Leader

• The Speaker of the House

The Executive Branch

The president is the head of state, leader of the executive branch, and commander in chief of the United States armed forces. The vice president supports the president. If the president is unable to serve, the vice president becomes president.

Multiple Choice

Q27: What are the two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

• Vote and run for office

• Read a newspaper and volunteer at the local food bank

• Get a driver's license and purchase real estate property

• Go to college and start a career

Participating in Government

We can contact our government officials when we want to support or change a law. Voting in an election and contacting our elected officials are two ways that Americans can participate in our democracy.

Multiple Choice

Q28: What group of people was taken to America and sold as a slave?

• Africans

• Canadians

• Spaniards

• Italians

Multiple Choice

Q29: When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

• July 4, 1770

• July 4, 1776

• July 4, 1870

• July 4, 1876

The Declaration of Independence

Over the course of seventeen days, in between meetings and other governmental affairs, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence becoming one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.

Multiple Choice

Q30: Which of the following includes three of the 13 original states?

• Georgia, Indiana, New York

• Maine, Ohio, West Virginia

• Vermont, Florida, Pennsylvania

• Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina

• Delaware

• Maryland

• Virginia

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

• Georgia.

• New Hampshire

• Massachusetts

• Rhode Island

• Connecticut,

• New York

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

13 Original Colonies/States

Multiple Choice

Q31: What happened at the Constitutional Convention?

• The Constitution was written

• The Constitution was ratified

• The Magna Carta was signed

• The Declaration of Independence was written

The Constitutional Convention

Near the end of the convention, a Committee rewrote the Articles of Confederation kneaded it into its final form, condensing 23 articles into seven in less than four days. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution

Multiple Choice

Q32: When was the Constitution written?

• 1776

• 1787

• 1812

• 1865

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Multiple Choice

Q33: What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

• Decorated was general

• Inventor of the telegraph

• Fourth president of the Unites States

• Oldest member of the Constitutional Convention

Benjamin Franklin

He was the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris peace with Britain, and the Constitution. Foundational in defining the American ethos, Franklin has been called "the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become".

Multiple Choice

Q34: What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

• Alaska

• Florida

• Hawaii

• Louisiana

The Louisiana Purchase

In this transaction with France, signed on April 30, 1803, the United States purchased 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. For roughly 4 cents an acre, the United States doubled its size, expanding the nation westward.

Multiple Choice

Q35: What is one promise made when becoming a citizen of the United States of America?

• To register to vote

• To get an education

• To join a political party

• To defend the U.S. Constitution

Becoming a Citizen

An immigrant completes many requirements to become a U.S. citizen. The final step is to take an Oath of Allegiance. You promise to be loyal to the United States and give up loyalty to other countries. You promise to defend the Constitution and obey the laws of the United States.

Multiple Choice

Q36: When must all men register for the Selective Service?

• At birth

• At age 16

• At age 18

• Men no longer have to register

The Selective Service

The Selective Service System (SSS) allows the federal government to keep a list of all men who would be available to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces in the event that a mandatory draft became necessary.

Multiple Choice

Q37: What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

• Called for an end to the Civil War

• Called for the creation of state boarders

• Called for an end to Southern Secession

• Called for the freeing of slaves in the Confederate States

The Emancipation Proclamation

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, announcing, "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious areas "are, and henceforward shall be free."

Emancipated: free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberated.

Multiple Choice

Q38: Who was the President during World War I?

• Warren Harding

• Woodrow Wilson

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Andrew Garfield

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Multiple Choice

Q39: What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

• The military

• The Bill of Rights

• Checks and Balances

• The Federal Reserve

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Multiple Choice

Q40: What is one responsibility that only applies to United States citizens?

• Pay taxes

• Obey the laws

• Serve on a jury

• Attend private school

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Multiple Choice

Q41: What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

• Freedom to work and freedom of speech

• Freedom to work and freedom to make laws

• Freedom of speech and freedom of assembly

• Freedom to make laws and freedom of assembly

Multiple Choice

Q42: Which war was fought by the United States in the 1900s?

• Civil War

• World War I

• Revolutionary War

• Mexican-American War

WWI

The First World War saw the Entente Powers - led by France, Russia, the British Empire, and later Italy (from 1915) and the United States (from 1917) - defeat the Central Powers - led by the German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian and Ottoman Empires. Russia withdrew from the war after the revolution there in 1917.

Multiple Choice

Q43: What is the Supreme law of the Land?

• The U.S. Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Emancipation Proclamation

• The Declaration of Independence

Multiple Choice

Q44: What does the Constitution do?

• Sets up and defines the government

• Draw boundaries of congressional districts

• Sets codes of conduct for obeying local and federal laws

• Determines whether citizens are prosecuted to the full extent of the law

The U.S. Constitution

The Constitution: Creates a government that puts the power in the hands of the people. Separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws.

Multiple Choice

Q45: The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

• We the United

• We the People

• We the Citizens

• We the Americans

Multiple Choice

Q46: What is an amendment?

• A change to the Constitution

• A preamble to the Constitution

• An explanation of the Bill of Rights

• An introduction to the Bill of Rights

Multiple Choice

Q47: What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

• The Preamble

• The Bill of Rights

• The articles of the Confederation

• The Declaration of Independence

Multiple Choice

Q48: What did the Declaration of Independence do?

• Declared freedom for the slaves

• Declared equal rights for women

• Declared freedom from Great Britain

• Declared an end to the war with Great Britain

Multiple Choice

Q49: What are two rights stated in the Declaration of independence?

• Life and Liberty

• Free speech and justice

• Bear arms and pay taxes

• Vote and pursuit of happiness

Multiple Choice

Q50: How many amendments does the Constitution have?

• 10

• 27

• 36

• 50

Multiple Choice

Q51: Who vetoes bills?

• The President

• The Majority Leader

• The President Pro Tempore

• The Speaker of the House of Representative

The Executive Branch

The ability of each branch to respond to the actions of the other branches is the system of checks and balances. Each branch of government can change acts of the other branches:

• The president can veto legislation created by Congress. He or she also nominates heads of federal agencies and high court appointees.

• Congress confirms or rejects the president's nominees. It can also remove the president from office in exceptional circumstances.

• The Justices of the Supreme Court, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, can overturn unconstitutional laws.

Multiple Choice

Q52: What is the "rule of law"?

• Everyone must follow the law

• Laws remain the same in every state

• Government leaders are above the law

• Laws only apply to U.S. citizens

Multiple Choice

Q53: What is one branch of the federal government?

• Governor

• Judicial

• Military

• Treasury

Multiple Choice

Q54: Who makes federal laws?

• The Congress

• The Supreme Court

• The Attorney General

• The Justice Department

Legislative Branch

The legislative branch is made up of Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) and special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress.

The legislative branch’s key roles include:

• Drafting proposed laws

• Confirming or rejecting presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court

• Surveying the budget

• Having the authority to declare war

Multiple Choice

Q55: If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

• The Vice President

• The Secretary of State

• The President Pro Tempore

• The Speaker of the House of Representative

The 25th Amendment

The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution addresses issues related to presidential succession and disability. It clarifies that the vice president becomes president if the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office by impeachment.

Multiple Choice

Q56: Who signs bills to become laws?

• The President

• The Vice President

• The Secretary of State

• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Multiple Choice

Q57: What is the highest court in the United States?

• The District Court

• The Superior Court

• The Supreme Court

• The Municipal Court

Multiple Choice

Q58: If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

• The Secretary of State

• The U.S. Attorney General

• The President Pro Tempore

• The Speaker of the House of Representative

Multiple Choice

Q59: Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

• To make treaties

• To issue driver's licenses

• To provide public education

• To establish police departments

Multiple Choice

Q60: Who is the Commander in Chief of the Military?

• The President

• The Secretary of Defense

• The U.S. Attorney General

• The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Multiple Choice

Q61: What is the capital of Arizona?

• Flagstaff

• Phoenix

• Prescott

• Tucson

Arizona

• Governor: Katie Hobbs

• Senators: Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego

• Representatives:1st district - David Schweikert (R) (since 2011)

  2nd district - Eli Crane (R) (since 2023)

  3rd district - Yassamin Ansari (D) (since 2025)

  4th district - Greg Stanton (D) (since 2019)

  5th district - Andy Biggs (R) (since 2017)

  6th district - Juan Ciscomani (R) (since 2023)

  7th district - Adelita Grijalva (D) (since 2025)

  8th district - Abraham Hamadeh (R) (since 2025)

  9th district - Paul Gosar (R) (since 2011)

Multiple Choice

Q62: What is one right that only applies to United States citizens?

• Speak freely

• own a weapon

• Practice a religion

• Run for federal office

Multiple Choice

Q63: How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?

• 16

• 18

• 21

• 35

Who can vote?

• Must be a U.S. citizen

• Meet state residency requirements

• Are 18 years old on or before Election Day

• Are registered to vote

Multiple Choice

Q64: Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

• Print money

• Create an army

• Issue passports

• Provide public education

The 10th Amendment

The Tenth Amendment declares, "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." In other words, states have all powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Multiple Choice

Q65: The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Who is one of the writers?

• John Adams

• James Madison

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 essays/articles that were written by supporters of the ratification of the Constitution in the fall of 1787 and spring of 1788. The intent of the essays was to sway public opinion—particularly in New York—towards supporting ratification of the newly proposed Constitution.

Multiple Choice

Q66: Who was President during both the Great Depression and WWII?

• Harry Truman

• Calvin Coolidge

• Woodrow Wilson

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

Frankiln D. Roosevelt

He is the longest-serving U.S. president, as well as the only one to have served more than two terms. His first two terms were centered on combating the Great Depression, while his third and fourth saw him shift his focus to America's involvement in World War II

Multiple Choice

Q68: During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?

• Colonialism

• Communism

• Imperialism

• Sectionalism

THe Cold War

This conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union is known as the Cold War because neither country ever directly attacked the other. This was because each country had nuclear weapons. Both the United States and the Soviet Union feared that neither country would survive a war with nuclear weapons.

Multiple Choice

Q69: What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

• Civil rights movement

• Progressive movement

• Temperance movement

• Women's suffrage movement

The Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement was a social movement in the United States from 1954 to 1968 which aimed to abolish legalized racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement in the country, which most commonly affected African Americans.

Multiple Choice

Q70: What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?

• The stock market crashed

• Columbia space shuttled exploded

• Terrorist attacked the United States

• Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans

9/11

In a meticulously planned attack, terrorists hijacked four airliners. They flew three of the planes into buildings: the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. After learning about the other attacks, passengers on the fourth hijacked plane, Flight 93, fought back, and the plane was crashed into an empty field in western Pennsylvania