USCIS 128:123. What is the name of the national anthem?

OpenAI. (2026).   What is the name of the national anthem?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

A national anthem is an official patriotic song that represents a country and its people. 

The name of the national anthem of the United States is The Star-Spangled Banner.  In 1931, Congress officially declared “The Star-Spangled Banner” to be the national anthem of the United States, and President Herbert Hoover signed the law.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was written during the War of 1812.  During the war, British forces attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1814.

American lawyer Francis Scott Key watched the battle from a nearby British ship while trying to negotiate the release of an American prisoner.  Throughout the night, British warships bombarded the fort with rockets and cannons. Francis Scott Key could only see flashes of light during the battle.

Early the next morning, he saw that the large American flag was still flying above the fort. This showed that the Americans had successfully defended Fort McHenry.  The sight of the flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem called “Defence of Fort M'Henry.”

The flag flying above the fort later became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. At that time, the American flag had 15 stars and 15 stripes because Vermont and Kentucky had joined the Union.  The large flag was made by Mary Pickersgill and other workers in Baltimore.

Later, Francis Scott Key’s poem was set to music using the tune of a popular song. Over time, Americans began singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” during patriotic celebrations, military ceremonies, and national events.

The song became especially important during the American Civil War and later wars because it symbolized national unity, survival, and patriotism.

The anthem has four official verses, although most Americans today usually sing only the first verse.

The first verse describes Francis Scott Key watching the battle at Fort McHenry and seeing the American flag still flying after the attack. It celebrates the survival of the United States during war.

One famous line from the first verse says:

“O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

The second verse describes the battle continuing through the night. It focuses on the dangers of war and praises the courage of the American defenders.

The third verse celebrates the American victory over the British attack and thanks the defenders who protected the country. However, the third verse also contains language criticizing the enemy during wartime. Because of this language and its historical connections to slavery and race, some modern Americans debate whether all parts of the song should continue to be celebrated today.

The fourth verse focuses on religion, freedom, and national unity. It thanks God for protecting the nation and expresses hope that the United States will continue to survive and remain free.

During the 1800s, some later writers created additional verses inspired by the anthem. One important later version is sometimes called the “abolitionist fifth verse.”

This unofficial verse was written by American abolitionists before the Civil War. Abolitionists were people who worked to end slavery in the United States.  One writer connected to these patriotic anti-slavery versions was Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., although several writers created different versions during the 1800s.  These abolitionist versions changed the meaning of the anthem from celebrating only a military victory to also supporting freedom and equality for all people.

Some abolitionists connected the American flag and the phrase “land of the free” with the struggle to end slavery. They argued that the United States could not truly be free while millions of African Americans remained enslaved.

During the Civil War, many Union supporters connected the anthem to preserving the Union and ending slavery.

After President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, patriotic symbols such as the flag and the anthem became more strongly connected with the cause of freedom and emancipation.

Later, during the Civil Rights Movement, civil rights leaders again connected the promises of the American flag and patriotic songs with the struggle for equal rights.

Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. argued that the ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy should apply to all Americans regardless of race.

Many civil rights activists believed the words “land of the free” should include African Americans who still faced segregation and discrimination.

During marches, protests, and public events, activists often sang patriotic songs, spirituals, and freedom songs to connect the Civil Rights Movement to the broader ideals of American democracy.

Because of this history, many Americans today view “The Star-Spangled Banner” as both a patriotic symbol and part of the continuing struggle to expand freedom and equality in the United States.  These debates show how national symbols can change over time as different generations interpret American ideals in new ways.

Today, the anthem is played at sporting events, military ceremonies, government events, schools, and national holidays such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day.

Many people stand respectfully, remove their hats, and place their hands over their hearts while the anthem is played.  These celebrations of freedom show how Americans stand united as one people despite their many differences.

2025-2026 MAE Citizenship Class 32

Tonight my students and I are CASAS testing!  There is no instruction

You can learn more about the CASAS California Citizenship Preparation program by watching this video by Portia La Ferala (CASAS Citizenship specialist) or by reviewing my presentation below.

Just in case you would like to have your students practice and familiarize themselves with the upcoming post-test, here is the link to the CASAS eTests Samplers, which contain sample test items for Reading and Listening STEPS. There are no practice tests for the CASAS Citizenship Assessments.

 

CASAS-SI 2025: CASAS Assessments for Citizenship Preparation

google slides | pdf

USCIS 128:122. Why does the flag have 50 stars?

OpenAI. (2026).   Why does the flag have 50 stars?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The flag of the United States has 50 stars because there are 50 states in the country.

Each star on the flag represents one state. The stars show that all 50 states are united together as one nation.

The stars appear in the blue part of the flag, called the union.

When the United States first became independent during the American Revolutionary War, the country had 13 original states.

In 1777, the Continental Congress passed the Flag Act of 1777, which created the first official American flag.

The law stated:

“the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

The 13 stars represented the 13 original states united together in a new nation. The phrase “new constellation” symbolized the creation of a new independent country among the nations of the world.

As the United States expanded westward and new states joined the Union, Congress added additional stars to the flag.

The number of stars changed many times during American history. At different times, the flag had 15 stars, 20 stars, 48 stars, 49 stars, and eventually 50 stars.

In 1795, Congress approved a flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes after Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union.

Later, Congress realized that adding more stripes would make the flag difficult to design as the country continued growing.

Because of this problem, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818.

The law permanently kept the flag at 13 stripes to honor the original colonies, while new stars would continue to be added for each new state.

The law also created the rule still used today: a new star is officially added to the flag on July 4th following the admission of a new state.

During the 1800s, the United States expanded across North America. New territories became states, and the number of stars on the flag continued to grow.

After the American Civil War, the flag became an important symbol of preserving the Union. President Abraham Lincoln refused to remove stars representing Southern states that had seceded because he believed the Union would survive the war.

By 1912, the flag had 48 stars after New Mexico and Arizona became states.  The 48-star flag remained official for many years and was used during both World Wars.

In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state, and a 49-star flag was introduced.  Later that same year, Hawaii became the 50th state.

The current 50-star flag officially became the national flag on July 4, 1960.  Today, the American flag has 13 stripes representing the original colonies and 50 stars representing the 50 states.

The American flag is displayed at schools, government buildings, military bases, memorials, sporting events, and homes across the country.

Many Americans view the stars on the flag as symbols of unity, equality among the states, national growth, and the strength of the Union.

USCIS 128:121. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

OpenAI. (2026).   Why does the flag have 13 stripes?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The flag of the United States has 13 stripes because there were 13 original colonies.

The stripes represent the first colonies that became the original states of the United States after independence from Great Britain.

In 1777, the Continental Congress approved the first official American flag. The flag had 13 stripes and 13 stars to represent the 13 original colonies united together.

After the Revolutionary War, new states began joining the United States.

In 1795, Congress changed the flag to include 15 stars and 15 stripes after Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union.

This 15-stripe flag later became famous during the War of 1812. It flew above Fort McHenry during a British attack in 1814.

After seeing the flag still flying after the battle, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that later became the song The Star-Spangled Banner.

As the United States continued to grow, more states entered the Union. Leaders realized that adding a new stripe for every state would make the flag too crowded and difficult to design.

Because of this problem, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1818.

This law permanently returned the flag to 13 stripes to honor the original colonies. The law also created the system still used today: a new star would be added to the flag for each new state.

Today, the American flag still has 13 stripes to remember the original colonies and 50 stars to represent the 50 states.

The flag is an important symbol of the history, unity, and independence of the United States.

USCIS 128:120. Where is the Statue of Liberty?

OpenAI. (2026).  Where is the Statue of Liberty?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The Statue of Liberty is located in New York Harbor on Liberty Island.

The statue stands near New York City. It can also be seen from parts of New Jersey and the Hudson River area.

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous symbols of the United States. It represents freedom, democracy, and hope.

The full name of the statue is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”

The people of France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a gift in the 1880s to celebrate friendship between the two countries and the ideals of liberty and democracy.

French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the statue. Engineer Gustave Eiffel, who later helped design the Eiffel Tower, helped create the statue’s internal support structure.

The statue was officially dedicated in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland.

The Statue of Liberty is made of copper and stands over 300 feet tall from the ground to the tip of the torch.

Lady Liberty holds a torch in one hand, which symbolizes freedom and enlightenment. In her other hand, she holds a tablet with the date July 4, 1776, written in Roman numerals. This date marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Broken chains near her feet symbolize freedom from oppression and tyranny.

Near the Statue of Liberty is Ellis Island, which became the main immigration station for the United States from 1892 to 1954.

During this period, millions of immigrants arrived in America by ship through New York Harbor. Many immigrants first saw the Statue of Liberty as they entered the harbor.

For many newcomers, the statue became a powerful symbol of hope, freedom, and a new beginning in the United States.

At Ellis Island, immigration officials checked medical records and documents before immigrants could enter the country. Many families waited for hours or days during the inspection process.

Some immigrants were allowed to enter the United States quickly, while others faced delays or were denied entry because of illness or legal problems.

Today, Ellis Island contains a museum that tells the stories of immigrants who came to the United States from many parts of the world.

An American writer named Emma Lazarus helped strengthen the statue’s connection to immigration and hope.

In 1883, Emma Lazarus wrote a famous poem called The New Colossus to help raise money for the statue’s pedestal.

One famous line from the poem says:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

These words helped make the Statue of Liberty a symbol of welcome for immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity in the United States.

Today, the poem is displayed inside the Statue of Liberty museum, and many people continue to connect the statue with immigration, freedom, and the American dream.

The Statue of Liberty has become an important symbol of citizenship, democracy, equal opportunity, and hope for people around the world.

Today, millions of tourists visit the statue every year. It remains one of the most recognized landmarks in the United States.

USCIS 128:119. What is the capital of the United States?

OpenAI. (2026).  What is the capital of the United States?   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C..

Washington, D.C. is located on the east coast of the United States between the states of Maryland and Virginia, along the Potomac River.

The letters “D.C.” stand for District of Columbia. Washington, D.C. is not part of any state. Instead, it is a special federal district created to serve as the nation’s capital.

After the American Revolution, American leaders wanted a capital city that did not belong to any single state. They believed this would help keep the federal government independent and fair to all states.

In 1790, Congress passed a law creating the new capital district. The city was named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.

French engineer and city planner Pierre Charles L'Enfant helped design the city with wide streets, parks, and large public spaces.

Benjamin Banneker was a free African American scientist and mathematician who helped survey and map parts of the new capital city during the 1790s.

Washington, D.C. became the official capital of the United States in 1800.

During the War of 1812, the capital city faced a major attack. In 1814, British soldiers entered Washington, D.C. and burned many government buildings, including parts of the United States Capitol and the White House.

After the attack, Americans rebuilt the city and repaired the damaged buildings. The rebuilding of Washington, D.C. became a symbol of the country’s survival and determination after the war.

During the American Civil War, construction continued on the large dome of the United States Capitol even while the nation was divided by war.

President Abraham Lincoln believed the Capitol dome should be completed because it symbolized that the United States would remain united despite the Civil War.

The new cast-iron dome was finished during the war and became a powerful symbol of national unity, strength, and the survival of the Union.

Today, the capital city is where the federal government of the United States is based. The three branches of the federal government all have important buildings there.

The United States Capitol is where Congress meets. Senators and representatives create federal laws in the Capitol building.

The White House is the home and workplace of the president of the United States.

The Supreme Court of the United States Building is where the Supreme Court hears important cases about the Constitution and federal law.

Washington, D.C. also contains many federal agencies, museums, libraries, embassies, and national monuments.

Many famous monuments and memorials are located there. These include the Washington Monument, built to honor George Washington, and the Lincoln Memorial, which honors President Abraham Lincoln.

Other important memorials include the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and memorials honoring veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The city is also home to many museums operated by the Smithsonian Institution. Many of these museums are free to the public.

For many years, people living in Washington, D.C. could not vote for president in national elections because the District of Columbia was not a state.

In 1961, the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution gave residents of Washington, D.C. the right to vote for president and vice president in presidential elections.

The 23rd Amendment was important because it expanded voting rights and gave people living in the nation’s capital a stronger voice in national government.

However, residents of Washington, D.C. still do not have full voting representation in Congress like people living in states. Washington, D.C. elects a delegate to the House of Representatives, but this delegate cannot cast final votes on laws in Congress. The city also has no voting senators.

Because of this issue, some Americans support proposals for Washington, D.C. statehood. Supporters argue that people living in Washington, D.C. should have the same voting representation in Congress as citizens living in the 50 states.

Others oppose statehood and believe the capital should remain a separate federal district because it is the center of the national government.

The debate about Washington, D.C. statehood continues today and is connected to questions about voting rights, representation, and the Constitution.

Today, Washington, D.C. is an important center of government, history, culture, tourism, education, and international relations.

USCIS 128:118. Name one example of an American innovation.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name one example of an American innovation.   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

The United States has created many important inventions and innovations that changed everyday life around the world.

An innovation is a new idea, invention, or improvement that helps people solve problems or do things more easily. American inventors, engineers, scientists, and workers helped create technologies that affected transportation, communication, business, medicine, and daily life.

One famous American innovation was the light bulb. Inventors such as Thomas Edison helped improve electric lighting during the late 1800s.

Before electric lights became common, many people used candles, oil lamps, or gas lamps. Electric lights made homes, schools, factories, and streets safer and brighter at night. Cities could stay active longer, and factories could operate after dark.

Another important innovation was the automobile, or car. During the early 1900s, American companies such as Ford Motor Company helped make cars affordable for many families.

American industrialist Henry Ford improved the assembly line, a manufacturing system where workers build products step by step as items move through a factory.

The assembly line allowed factories to produce cars more quickly and at lower cost. Because of this system, more Americans could afford automobiles.

Automobiles changed American life in many ways. People could travel farther for work and vacations. Roads and highways expanded across the country, businesses transported products more easily, and many families moved to suburbs outside large cities.

The United States also became famous for building skyscrapers, very tall buildings made possible by steel construction, elevators, and modern engineering.

Cities such as Chicago and New York City became known for their skylines filled with skyscrapers. Tall office buildings allowed many businesses and workers to operate in crowded cities.

Another major American innovation was the airplane. In 1903, the Wright brothers completed the first successful powered airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

At first, airplanes were small and experimental. Over time, airplanes improved and became important for transportation, trade, communication, and military defense.

Air travel later allowed people to travel across the country and around the world much more quickly than before.

During the Cold War, the United States also became a leader in space technology. One of the most famous American achievements was the Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 1969.

The United States sent astronauts to the moon during the Space Race with the Soviet Union. Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.

Millions of people watched the moon landing on television. The moon landing showed major advances in science, engineering, computers, and space exploration.

American scientists and engineers also helped develop the integrated circuit (IC), often called a computer chip, during the mid-1900s.

Integrated circuits became one of the foundations of modern technology. Computer chips made it possible to create personal computers, smartphones, calculators, medical devices, satellites, and the internet.

Today, integrated circuits are used in almost every part of modern life.

American innovations also created many new industries and jobs. Universities, businesses, government programs, and private inventors often worked together to develop new technologies.

Many American innovations spread around the world and influenced global transportation, communication, medicine, education, entertainment, and business.

Question 118 on the civics test asks applicants to name one example of an American innovation. Applicants may answer with examples such as the light bulb, automobile, airplane, skyscrapers, assembly line, moon landing, or integrated circuit. 

USCIS 128:117. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.

OpenAI. (2026).  Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

American Indians, also called Native Americans or Indigenous peoples, are the first peoples who lived in North America before Europeans arrived.

For thousands of years, many different American Indian tribes lived across the land that is now the United States. Each tribe had its own language, culture, traditions, government, and way of life.

Some tribes lived in forests, some lived on the Great Plains, some lived in deserts, and others lived near rivers, mountains, or oceans. Different environments influenced how tribes built homes, found food, traveled, and traded with neighboring groups.

For example, the Cherokee Nation lived mainly in the southeastern United States and developed farming communities and written laws. The Navajo Nation lived in the Southwest and became known for sheep herding, weaving, and beautiful jewelry.

The Lakota and other Sioux tribes lived on the Great Plains and followed buffalo herds across large areas of land. Buffalo were very important because tribes used them for food, clothing, tools, and shelter.

The Hopi Tribe and Pueblo peoples built communities in the Southwest and became skilled farmers in dry desert areas. The Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope lived in Alaska and adapted to cold Arctic conditions.

Other tribes included the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Seminole Tribe of Florida, Oneida Indian Nation, Mohawk Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and many others.

Some tribes formed large alliances. One important example was the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, also called the Iroquois Confederacy. This alliance included tribes such as the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy created a system of representative government and cooperation between tribes. Some historians believe its ideas about unity and shared government later influenced American political thinking.

American Indian tribes developed farming, trade routes, governments, art, science, and religious traditions long before the United States was created. Native peoples grew crops such as corn, beans, and squash, which later became important foods throughout the world.

After Europeans arrived in North America, many tribes faced major changes. Diseases brought by Europeans killed large numbers of Native people. Conflicts over land also increased as European settlements expanded.

During the 1800s, the U.S. government forced many tribes to move from their homelands. One well-known example was the Trail of Tears, when many Cherokee people and other tribes were forced to move west during the 1830s. Thousands died during the difficult journey.

In the late 1800s, many American Indian children were sent to boarding schools where they were often forced to stop speaking their Native languages and practicing their traditions.

Despite these hardships, American Indian tribes survived and preserved many of their cultures, languages, and traditions.

During World War I and World War II, many Native Americans served in the U.S. military. Some Native American soldiers, called Code Talkers, used Native languages such as Navajo to send secret military messages during World War II.

Today, there are hundreds of federally recognized tribes in the United States. Many tribes govern reservations and continue to protect their languages, traditions, and communities.

American Indians continue to contribute to American society through government, military service, education, science, art, sports, environmental protection, and business.

Question 117 on the civics test asks applicants to name one American Indian tribe in the United States. Applicants may give the name of any tribe listed in the official USCIS answers, such as Apache, Cherokee, Navajo, Seminole, Sioux, or another accepted tribe.

USCIS 128:116. Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

OpenAI. (2026). Name one U.S. military conflict after the September 11, 2001 attacks.   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States in a series of coordinated attacks known as 9/11.

Nineteen terrorists connected to the extremist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger airplanes. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane crashed into the The Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed near Shanksville after passengers fought back against the hijackers.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks. Afterward, President George W. Bush announced that the United States would respond to terrorism.

Soon afterward, the United States began military actions called the Global War on Terror. The goal was to fight terrorist groups and prevent future attacks against the United States and its allies.

The first major conflict in the Global War on Terror was the War in Afghanistan. At that time, Afghanistan was controlled by the Taliban, which allowed Al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden, to operate there.

In October 2001, the United States and allied countries began military operations in Afghanistan. The goals included removing the Taliban government from power, destroying terrorist training camps, and capturing terrorist leaders.

After 9/11, the United States also increased airport security and anti-terrorism efforts.

In 2002, the government created the United States Department of Homeland Security to help protect the country from terrorism and coordinate national security programs.

In 2003, the government created United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Department of Homeland Security. USCIS became responsible for immigration services such as citizenship, green cards, asylum applications, and naturalization.

Also in 2003, the United States began the War in Iraq. American leaders believed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein might possess dangerous weapons and threaten international security.

The United States and coalition forces removed Saddam Hussein’s government from power. Saddam Hussein was later captured and executed in 2006.

In 2011, U.S. forces located and killed Osama bin Laden during a military operation in Pakistan.

During the following years, violence and instability continued in Iraq and nearby countries. A new extremist group called Islamic State (ISIS) gained control of territory in Iraq and Syria.

Beginning in 2014, the United States and allied countries launched military operations against ISIS. This military action also became part of the Global War on Terror.

American forces worked with allies and local forces in Iraq and Syria to weaken ISIS and remove it from much of the territory it controlled.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq lasted for many years. Thousands of American service members were killed or injured, and millions of civilians were affected by violence and war.

In 2021, the United States completed its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and the Taliban returned to power there.

The Global War on Terror is important because it shaped American foreign policy, military operations, airport security, immigration policy, and national security during the early 2000s and beyond.