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Worksheets8th grade US History Civics Test - 100 questions
Total questions: 100
Worksheet time: 25hrs 0mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What is the supreme law of the land?
a)
The U.S. Constitution
b)
The Declaration of independence
c)
The Supreme Court
d)
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
2.
What does the Constitution do?
a)
Sets up the government
b)
Defines the limits of government
c)
Protects basic rights of Americans
d)
All of these answers are correct.
3.
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
a)
We the people
b)
We the citizens
c)
Liberty for all
d)
Justice for all
4.
What is an amendment?
a)
It's a change to the Constitution.
b)
It's a vote in Congress.
c)
It's the process by which Supreme Court Justices are chosen.
d)
It's part of the Electoral College.
5.
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
a)
The Bill of Rights
b)
The Bill of Lading
c)
The Ten Commandments
d)
The List of Ten
6.
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
a)
Right to free exercise of religion
b)
Right to bear arms
c)
Right to vote
d)
Right to a speedy trial
7.
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
a)
27
b)
51
c)
33
d)
10
8.
What did the Declaration of Independence do?
a)
Declared our independence (from Great Britain)
b)
Declared our independence (from France)
c)
Formed a pact with Great Britain
d)
Ended the American Revolution
9.
What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
a)
Life, Liberty
b)
Liberty, Right to Vote
c)
Free speech, Pursuit of happiness
d)
Free Press, Life
10.
What is freedom of religion?
a)
You can practice (or not practice) any religion, as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others.
b)
You can practice any religion, regardless of others' rights.
c)
You must practice a state mandated religion.
d)
You cannot practice any religion.
11.
What is the economic system in the United States?
a)
Capitalist, Free market
b)
Socialist, Communist
c)
Black market
d)
Underground railroad
12.
What is the "rule of law"?
a)
All of these answers are correct.
b)
Everyone must follow the law.
c)
Leaders must obey the law.
d)
No one is above the law.
13.
Which are the three branches of government?.
a)
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
b)
Judicial, Congress, Senate
c)
Supreme Court, President, Agriculture
d)
Army, Navy, Air Force
14.
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
a)
Checks and balances
b)
The U.S. Military
c)
Martial law
d)
The President
15.
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
a)
The President
b)
The Supreme Court
c)
The Commerce Secretary
d)
Secretary of Defense
16.
Who makes federal laws?
a)
Congress
b)
The FBI
c)
The Attorney General
d)
The Department of Justice
17.
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
a)
Senate, House of Representatives
b)
Department of Justice, Department of Education
c)
FBI, CIA
d)
President, Supreme Court
18.
How many U.S. Senators are there?
a)
100
b)
2
c)
435
d)
50
19.
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
a)
6
b)
2
c)
4
d)
8
20.
How many Senators are elected from each state?
a)
2
b)
4
c)
6
d)
8
21.
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
a)
435
b)
12
c)
100
d)
535
22.
We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
a)
2
b)
4
c)
6
d)
8
23.
What determines the number of Representatives a state will have?
a)
Population
b)
Land mass
c)
Agriculture
d)
The Supreme Court
24.
Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
a)
All the people of their state
b)
Half the people of their state
c)
Half the people of the country
d)
All the people of the country
25.
Which location has *non-voting* representation in Congress?
a)
District of Columbia
b)
Alaska
c)
Cuba
d)
Hawaii
26.
We elect a President for how many years?
a)
4
b)
2
c)
6
d)
8
27.
In what month do we vote for President?
a)
November
b)
April
c)
January
d)
October
28.
What is the name of the President of the United States now?
a)
Donald Trump
b)
Joe Biden
c)
Bill Clinton
d)
George Bush
29.
What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
a)
JD Vance
b)
Donald Trump
c)
Dick Cheney
d)
Hillary Clinton
30.
If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
a)
The Vice President
b)
The Speaker of the House
c)
The Secretary of State
d)
The First Lady
31.
If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
a)
The Speaker of the House
b)
The Secretary of State
c)
The First Lady
d)
A special election is held.
32.
Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
a)
The President
b)
The Vice President
c)
The Secretary of Defense
d)
The First Lady
33.
Who signs bills to become laws?
a)
The President
b)
The President's secretary
c)
The Vice President
d)
The Attorney General
34.
Who vetoes bills?
a)
The President
b)
The Vice President
c)
The Speaker of the House
d)
The Senate Majority Leader
35.
What does the President’s Cabinet do?
a)
They advise the President.
b)
They tell the President what he must do.
c)
They make laws.
d)
They clean the White House.
36.
What are two Cabinet-level positions?
a)
All of these answers are correct.
b)
Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce
c)
Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Education
d)
Attorney General, Vice President
37.
What does the judicial branch do?
a)
Decide the Constitutionality of laws
b)
Write and pass new legislation
c)
Authorize military action
d)
Federal law enforcement
38.
What is the highest court in the United States?
a)
The U.S. Supreme Court
b)
State Supreme Court
c)
Federal Court
d)
The Presidential Court
39.
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
a)
9
b)
7
c)
6
d)
12
40.
Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now?
a)
John Roberts
b)
Clarence Thomas
c)
Antonin Scalia
d)
Sonia Sotomayor
41.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
a)
All of these answers are correct.
b)
To print money
c)
To create an army
d)
To declare war
42.
Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
a)
To provide schooling and education
b)
To declare war on other countries
c)
To establish and print currency
d)
To make treaties
43.
Who is the chief executive of a state?
a)
The Governor
b)
The Lieutenant Governor
c)
The State Comptroller
d)
The Senator
44.
How many U.S. states are there?
a)
50
b)
48
c)
51
d)
57
45.
What are the two major political parties in the United States, now?
a)
Democratic and Republican
b)
Republican and Libertarian
c)
Libertarian and Communist
d)
Green and Republican
46.
What is the political party of the President now?
a)
Republican
b)
Democrat
c)
Libertarian
d)
Communist
47.
What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
a)
Paul Ryan
b)
Joe Biden
c)
Mike Johnson
d)
Hillary Clinton
48.
Which Constitutional Amendment related to voting rights for women?
a)
19th
b)
1st
c)
2nd
d)
27th
49.
What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?
a)
Serve on a jury
b)
Pay a poll tax
c)
Mandatory military service
d)
Gun ownership
50.
What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
a)
The Flag
b)
The U.S. Military
c)
The President
d)
Congress
51.
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
a)
All of these answers are correct.
b)
give up loyalty to other countries
c)
obey the laws of the United States
d)
defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
52.
How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?
a)
18
b)
21
c)
25
d)
35
53.
Which is a way that Americans can participate in the U.S. political process?
a)
publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
b)
publicly defame a political opponent
c)
throw rocks at public offices
d)
commit voter fraud
54.
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
a)
April 15th
b)
January 1st
c)
December 31st
d)
April 1st
55.
When must all men register for the Selective Service?
a)
at age 18
b)
at age 16
c)
at age 21
d)
at age 55
56.
What are two rights of all American citizens?
a)
right to bear arms, right to free speech
b)
right to vote, right to a job
c)
right to succeed, right to pursue happiness
d)
right to free speech, right to health care
57.
Which Constitutional Amendment makes it illegal to institute a poll tax?
a)
24th
b)
17th
c)
11th
d)
27th
58.
What is one reason colonists came to America?
a)
religious freedom
b)
health care
c)
education
d)
libraries
59.
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
a)
Native American Indians
b)
Vikings
c)
Chinese
d)
French
60.
What group of people was sold as slaves and taken to America?
a)
Africans
b)
Australians
c)
Mexicans
d)
Italian
61.
Why did the colonists fight the British?
a)
because of high taxes
b)
because the British invaded Poland
c)
because they wanted a new King
d)
All of these answers are correct.
62.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
a)
Thomas Jefferson
b)
John Adams
c)
George Washington
d)
Benjamin Franklin
63.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
a)
July 4, 1776
b)
July 1, 1776
c)
September 17, 1789
d)
December 7th, 1941
64.
Which were three of the original 13 states?
a)
New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia
b)
Virginia, Georgia, Florida
c)
New York, New Jersey, Maine
d)
Massachusetts, California, Florida
65.
What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
a)
The Constitution was written.
b)
The Declaration of Independence was written.
c)
The Constitution was ratified.
d)
The Magna Carta was signed.
66.
When was the Constitution written?
a)
1787
b)
1776
c)
1802
d)
1987
67.
The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
a)
James Madison
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
George Washington
68.
What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
a)
First Postmaster General of the United States
b)
Third President of the United States
c)
Invented the Cotton Gin
d)
Discovered gravity.
69.
Who is the “Father of Our Country”?
a)
George Washington
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Abraham Lincoln
70.
Who was the first President?
a)
George Washington
b)
Benjamin Franklin
c)
Thomas Jefferson
d)
Samuel Adams
71.
What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
a)
the Louisiana Territory
b)
Alaska
c)
the Northwest Territory
d)
Canada
72.
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
a)
Spanish-American War
b)
The American Revolution
c)
The French and Indian War
d)
World War II
73.
Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
a)
The Civil War
b)
The American Revolution
c)
The French and Indian War
d)
World War I
74.
Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
a)
slavery
b)
religious freedom
c)
taxation without representation
d)
abortion
75.
What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
a)
led the United States during the Civil War
b)
Invented the Cotton Gin
c)
led the United States during the War of 1812
d)
led the United States during the American Revolution
76.
What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
a)
freed the slaves
b)
created state borders
c)
ended the American Revolution
d)
ended World War II
77.
What did Susan B. Anthony do?
a)
fought for women's rights
b)
taught Helen Keller
c)
invented the Polio vaccine
d)
discovered electricity
78.
Which is a war fought by the United States in the 1900s?
a)
World War I
b)
The American Revolution
c)
The Civil War
d)
The War of 1812
79.
Who was President during World War I?
a)
Woodrow Wilson
b)
Harry Truman
c)
John F. Kennedy
d)
Richard M. Nixon
80.
Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
a)
Franklin Roosevelt
b)
Thomas Jefferson
c)
Woodrow Wilson
d)
William Jefferson Clinton
81.
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
a)
Japan, Germany, and Italy
b)
China, Japan and Turkey
c)
England, Germany and Russia
d)
Japan, Germany, and Canada
82.
Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
a)
World War II
b)
World War I
c)
The Korean War
d)
The American Revolution
83.
During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
a)
Communism
b)
Capitalism
c)
Climate Change
d)
Energy Shortage
84.
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
a)
Civil Rights
b)
Animal Rights
c)
Women's Rights
d)
Gay Marriage
85.
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?
a)
fought for civil rights
b)
fought for women's right to vote
c)
fought for marriage equality
d)
fought for higher minimum wage
86.
What major event happened on September 11, 2001?
a)
terrorists attacked the United States
b)
the stock market crashed
c)
the Titanic sank
d)
terrorists attacked London
87.
Which is NOT an American Indian tribe?
a)
Hookah
b)
Cherokee
c)
Chitimacha
d)
Mohegan
88.
What are the two longest rivers in the United States?
a)
Missouri, Mississippi
b)
Mississippi, Ohio
c)
Missouri, Hudson
d)
Ohio, Rio Grande
89.
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
a)
Pacific
b)
Atlantic
c)
Indian
d)
Arctic
90.
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
a)
Atlantic
b)
Pacific
c)
Indian
d)
Arctic
91.
Which is NOT a U.S. territory?
a)
Cuba
b)
Guam
c)
American Samoa
d)
Puerto Rico
92.
Which states border Canada?
a)
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
b)
New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont
c)
North Dakota, Montana, Iowa
d)
Idaho, Washington, California
93.
Which is state that borders Mexico?
a)
Arizona
b)
Louisiana
c)
Mississippi
d)
Oklahoma
94.
What is the capital of the United States?
a)
Washington, D.C.
b)
New York, NY
c)
Los Angeles, CA
d)
Miami, FL
95.
Where is the Statue of Liberty?
a)
Liberty Island, NY
b)
Staten Island, NY
c)
Washington, D.C.
d)
Hoboken, NJ
96.
Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
a)
thirteen original colonies
b)
thirteen Founding Fathers
c)
thirteen original flavors
d)
a baker's dozen
97.
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
a)
50 U.S. states
b)
50 original colonies
c)
50 founding fathers
d)
50 original signers
98.
What is the name of the national anthem?
a)
Star Spangled Banner
b)
Forever She Waves
c)
Land of the Free
d)
Home of the Brave
99.
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
a)
July 4th
b)
June 4th
c)
April 15th
d)
January 1st
100.
Which are two national U.S. holidays?
a)
Thanksgiving, Christmas
b)
New Year’s Day, Groundhog Day
c)
Labor Day, Lady Gaga Day
d)
Memorial Day, Bring Your Daughter to Work Day
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