2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 29

iCivics:  Defining Citizenship - Teaching the Fourteenth Amendment

Also watch:

• Annenberg Classroom: The Reconstruction Amendments
• iCivics: The Constitution Explained Playlist English | Spanish
• New York Historical Society: The Emancipation Proclamation
• TED-ED: The electrifying speeches of Sojourner Truth - Daina Ramey Berry
• TED-ED: The breathtaking courage of Harriet Tubman - Janell Hobson
• TED-ED: One of the most "dangerous" men in American history - Keenan Norris
• TED-ED: The historic women’s suffrage march on Washington - Michelle Mehrtens
• The American Experience: The Supreme Court Case that Affirmed Birthright Citizenship

N-400 practice

• N-400 2023: E4 Marriage and Children / Immigration Fraud plus Quiz 13: Civic Groups
• N-400 2024: Questions 15 and 16: Arrests 

Preparing the Oath: The 1800s

Voices of Freedom: Ch 9: The 1800s and the Civil War (follow-up: need to review other amendments and 1800s activism)

A Summary of the US Constituion pdf

N-400 Part 12 Quiz 2 pdf

128 Civics Quiz: The 1800s (saved from last next week)

USCIS 128:96. What U.S. war ended slavery?

 

USPS 32c Civil War pane of twenty source (note: the back has mini biographies!)

The Civil War is the U.S. war that ended slavery. It took place from 1861 to 1865.

Before the war, the United States was divided. The northern states (Union) wanted to keep the country together, while the southern states (Confederacy) wanted to leave the Union. A major issue was slavery.

Even before the war, many people worked to end slavery. These people were called abolitionists. For example, Frederick Douglass spoke and wrote against slavery. Harriet Tubman helped enslaved people escape to freedom. William Lloyd Garrison used his newspaper to argue for immediate abolition.

The war began on April 12, 1861, at the Battle of Fort Sumter. During the war, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This order freed enslaved people in the Confederate states, but it did not end slavery everywhere and depended on the Union winning the war.

Because of this, leaders in Congress decided to create a permanent law to end slavery. In 1864 and 1865, members of Congress debated a new amendment to the Constitution. Some lawmakers strongly supported it, saying slavery must end forever. Others opposed it or worried about its effects. The debate was difficult, and the amendment did not pass at first.

President Lincoln supported the amendment and encouraged Congress to act. In January 1865, the House of Representatives finally approved the 13th Amendment after a close and important vote. The Senate had already passed it earlier.

After Congress approved it, the amendment was sent to the states. By December 1865, enough states had approved it, and the 13th Amendment became law. It officially ended slavery in all parts of the United States.

In simple terms, the Emancipation Proclamation began freeing enslaved people during the war, and the 13th Amendment made the end of slavery permanent in the Constitution.

The Civil War is important because it kept the country united and led to the final and legal end of slavery.

USPS 128:95. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

USPS 5c Emancipation Proclamation single source

The Emancipation Proclamation was an important action during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln issued it on January 1, 1863.

Before this, the Civil War began in 1861. At first, the main goal of the Union was to keep the country together. However, slavery was a major issue in the conflict.

In September 1862, after the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln announced that he would free enslaved people in the states that were still fighting against the Union. This led to the Emancipation Proclamation.

On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation took effect. It freed enslaved people in the Confederate states. It did not immediately free all enslaved people, but it changed the purpose of the war. Now the war was also about ending slavery.

Even after this order, freedom did not reach everyone right away. In some places, slavery continued until Union soldiers arrived.

For example, in Texas, enslaved people were not freed until June 19, 1865. On that day, Union troops arrived and announced that all enslaved people were free. This day is now called Juneteenth.

In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in the United States. It is now known as Juneteenth National Independence Day. Americans observe this day to remember the end of slavery and to honor freedom and equality.

The Emancipation Proclamation was an important step toward ending slavery. It helped lead to freedom for millions of people and changed the future of the nation.

2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 28

 

uscitizenpod: New York Historical Society: The Emancipation Proclamation

Also watch:

• TED-ED: How one piece of legislation divided a nation - Ben Labaree, Jr.
• TED-ED: What is Juneteenth, and why is it important? - Karlos K. Hill and Soraya Field Fiorio
• TED-ED: The breathtaking courage of Harriet Tubman - Janell Hobson
• TED-ED: Debunking the myth of the Lost Cause: A lie embedded in American history - Karen L. Cox

N-400 practice

• N-400 2023: E-3: Origin / Groups and Organizations
• N-400 2024: Questions 12, 13, 14: Weapons, Child Soldiers

uscitizenpod: 10 Citizenship Questions in Honor of Earth Day (pdf)

Preparing the Oath: The 1800s

Voices of Freedom: Ch 9: The 1800s and the Civil War (follow-up: need to review other amendments and 1800s activism)

N-400 Part 12 Quiz (Part Quiz) 1 pdf

128 Civics Quiz: The 1800s (correction) (save till next week)

USPS 128:94. Abraham Lincoln is famous for many things. Name one.

USPS  3c Gettysburg Address single source

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most important leaders in U.S. history. He is famous for many things that happened during a difficult time in the country.

First, Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States on November 6, 1860. He took office on March 4, 1861. Soon after, the Civil War began in April 1861.

During the war, Lincoln led the United States and worked to save the Union. This means he wanted to keep the country together. He guided the nation through the war from 1861 to 1865.

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This order declared that enslaved people in the Confederate states were free. It made ending slavery an important goal of the war.

Later that year, on November 19, 1863, Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address in Pennsylvania. In this speech, he honored the soldiers who died and reminded the country that the United States was founded on the idea that all people are equal. He said the nation must continue the work of freedom and make sure that “government of the people, by the people, for the people” continues.

The Civil War ended in April 1865. Soon after, Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, and he died on April 15, 1865. His death shocked the nation.

Abraham Lincoln is remembered for leading the country during the Civil War, preserving the Union, and helping end slavery. For the civics test, you only need to name one of these facts.

USCIS 128:93. The Civil War had many important events. Name one.

USPS 5c Blue & Gray at Gettysburg Stamp source

The Civil War had many important events from 1861 to 1865. These events show how the war began, changed, and ended.

The war began with the Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, in South Carolina. Confederate forces attacked the fort, and Union soldiers surrendered. This event started the Civil War.

The Battle of Antietam, also called Sharpsburg, happened on September 17, 1862, in Maryland. It was one of the bloodiest days in American history. After this battle, President Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863. It said that enslaved people in the Confederate states were free. This made ending slavery an important goal of the war.

The Battle of Gettysburg happened from July 1 to July 3, 1863, in Pennsylvania. It was a major Union victory. Around the same time, the Battle of Vicksburg ended on July 4, 1863, giving the Union control of the Mississippi River.

In 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman led Sherman’s March through Georgia. His army captured Atlanta in September and marched to Savannah from November to December 1864. This weakened the Confederacy.

The war ended when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. A few days later, President Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, and died on April 15, 1865.

USCIS 128:92. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

The war between the North and the South is called the Civil War. It took place in the United States from 1861 to 1865.

Before the war, the country was divided. The northern states, called the Union, wanted to keep the country together. The southern states, called the Confederacy, wanted to leave the United States. One main issue was slavery.

The war began in 1861 when fighting started at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Over the next four years, there were many important battles across the country.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This declared that enslaved people in the Confederate states were free. It also gave the Union a stronger purpose in the war.

In 1865, the Union won the war. The Confederate army surrendered, and the United States remained one country. After the war, slavery ended in the United States.

The Civil War is important because it kept the nation united and ended slavery.

USCIS 128:91. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.

MS Designer. (2026).  Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s [AI-generated infographic]. MS Designer.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States fought several important wars in the 1800s. These wars helped shape the country’s history and growth. For the civics test, you only need to name one of these wars.

One example is the War of 1812. This war was fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815. The United States wanted to protect its trade and its independence. During this war, British forces burned the city of Washington, D.C., including the White House. The war ended with no clear winner, but it helped the United States feel stronger and more independent.

Another example is the Mexican-American War. This war took place from 1846 to 1848 between the United States and Mexico. It began after disagreements about the border of Texas. After the war, the United States gained a large amount of land in the West, including areas that are now California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of other states.

The Civil War was one of the most important wars in U.S. history. It lasted from 1861 to 1865 and was fought between the northern states, called the Union, and the southern states, called the Confederacy. The war was mainly about slavery and whether the country would remain united. The Union won the war, slavery ended, and the United States stayed together as one nation.

The Spanish-American War happened in 1898 between the United States and Spain. The war began partly because of events in Cuba. The United States won the war quickly. Afterward, the United States gained new territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

These wars are important because they show how the United States defended itself, expanded its land, and dealt with major challenges. For the civics test, you only need to name one of these wars.

USCIS 128:90. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

OpenAI. (2026).  What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

In 1803, the United States bought land from France. This land was called the Louisiana Territory, or simply Louisiana. It was a very large area in the center of North America.

The purchase was made during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. The United States paid about $15 million to France. At that time, France was led by Napoleon Bonaparte, who needed money for wars in Europe.

The Louisiana Territory was very large. It stretched from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west. It also included the Missouri River, which became an important route for travel and exploration. This purchase doubled the size of the United States.

The land was important for trade. Americans could use the Mississippi River and the city of New Orleans to move goods. Farmers could send crops down the river to sell in other places.

After the purchase, President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new land. They traveled west starting near the Mississippi River and followed the Missouri River for much of their journey. Their route continued across the land all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition helped the United States learn about the new territory. They mapped the land and learned about rivers, mountains, plants, animals, and Native American tribes.

A Native American woman named Sacagawea helped the expedition. She acted as a guide and interpreter. She helped Lewis and Clark find food, understand the land, and communicate with Native American tribes. Her knowledge and support were very important to the success of the expedition

The Louisiana Purchase helped the United States grow larger and stronger. It gave the country more land, more resources, and new paths for exploration and settlement.