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)

USCIS 128:87. Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.

OpenAI. (2026).  Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

Thomas Jefferson is an important leader in American history. He helped shape the United States through his ideas about freedom, government, and education.

First, in 1776, Jefferson was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence. In this document, he explained that all people are created equal and have basic rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These ideas became very important to the identity of the United States.

Next, in 1786, he wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This law said that people can choose their own religion and that the government cannot force religious beliefs. This idea later influenced the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Then, in 1789, Jefferson became the first Secretary of State under President George Washington. In this role, he helped guide the new country’s foreign policy and build relationships with other nations.

After that, in 1801, Jefferson became the third president of the United States. During his presidency, he made an important decision in 1803 called the Louisiana Purchase. The United States bought a large area of land from France, which doubled the size of the country and opened new opportunities for growth and exploration.

Later in his life, Jefferson focused on education. In 1819, he founded the University of Virginia. He believed that education was important for a strong and informed democracy.

Thomas Jefferson’s work had a lasting impact on the United States. His ideas about rights, freedom, and learning continue to influence the country today. For the civics test, you only need to name one of these facts.

USCIS 128:86. George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.

OpenAI. (2026).  George Washington is famous for many things. Name one.   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

George Washington is one of the most important leaders in American history. He played a major role in the founding of the United States and helped guide the country in its early years.

First, during the American Revolution (1775–1783), Washington was the general of the Continental Army. He led the American forces against Great Britain. Even when his army faced many challenges, he stayed strong and helped lead them to victory.

After the war, in 1787, Washington became the president of the Constitutional Convention. At this meeting in Philadelphia, leaders wrote the U.S. Constitution. Washington helped guide the discussions and supported the new plan for government.

Next, in 1789, he became the first president of the United States. He served until 1797. During his presidency, he helped create important traditions, such as a peaceful transfer of power and limiting presidents to two terms.

Because of his leadership in war and peace, George Washington is called the “Father of Our Country.” People use this name because he helped create the United States and kept the country united during difficult times.

George Washington’s leadership, honesty, and commitment to the country made him a respected figure in American history. For the civics test, you only need to name one of these facts.

USCIS 128:85. Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.

OpenAI. (2026).  Benjamin Franklin is famous for many things. Name one.   [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliardi

 Benjamin Franklin is one of the most important and well-known leaders in early American history. He helped shape the United States in many different ways. He was not only a political leader, but also a scientist, writer, and community leader.

One reason he is famous is that he helped write the Declaration of Independence in 1776. He worked with Thomas Jefferson and other leaders to explain why the colonies wanted to be free from Great Britain. His experience and ideas helped improve the document.

Benjamin Franklin was also a well-known inventor. He created useful inventions such as the lightning rod, which protects buildings from lightning, and bifocal glasses, which help people see both near and far. He also studied electricity and made important scientific discoveries.

He served as the first Postmaster General of the United States. In this role, he helped organize and improve the postal system so people could send and receive mail more quickly and reliably across the colonies.

Franklin was also an important U.S. diplomat. During the Revolutionary War, he traveled to France. He helped convince the French government to support the American colonies with money, supplies, and soldiers. This support was very important for winning the war.

In addition, he founded the first free public libraries. He believed that education should be available to everyone, not just wealthy people. His ideas helped more people read, learn, and share knowledge.

Benjamin Franklin’s many contributions show how one person can help a country grow in different ways. For the civics test, you only need to name one of these achievements.

USCIS 128:84. Why were the Federalist Papers important?

OpenAI. (2026).   Why were the Federalist Papers important?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliard

The Federalist Papers were important because they helped people understand the new U.S. Constitution. Many people were unsure about the new government. Some feared that it would be too strong and take away their rights. The essays explained how the Constitution would work in a clear and simple way.

The writers—James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay—also used the essays to support passing the Constitution. They answered the concerns of people who were against it, often called Anti-Federalists. For example, they explained how the government would have three branches and how each branch could limit the others. This system, called checks and balances, would help prevent abuse of power.

The Federalist Papers were published in newspapers, especially in New York, where many people were still undecided. The essays reached a wide audience, including voters and leaders. They helped explain why a strong but limited national government was necessary for unity, defense, and stability.

Because of these explanations, more people began to trust the Constitution. The essays influenced public opinion and helped leaders in several states support ratification. In this way, the Federalist Papers played an important role in helping the states agree to ratify the Constitution and form the new government.

USCIS 128:83. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.

OpenAI. (2026).  The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliard

The Federalist Papers are a collection of 85 essays written in 1787 and 1788 to support the new U.S. Constitution. At that time, many people were unsure about the new government. These essays explained why the Constitution was needed and how it would work.

The essays were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. They used the name “Publius” so readers would focus on the ideas instead of the authors.

Alexander Hamilton wrote the largest number of essays. He helped organize the project and explained the need for a strong national government. He wrote about topics like national defense, unity, and the powers of the federal government.

James Madison wrote many important essays about how the government should be structured. He explained ideas like checks and balances and the separation of powers. In one famous essay, he discussed how a large republic can control the dangers of groups with strong interests, called factions.

John Jay wrote fewer essays because he became sick, but his work was still important. He focused on foreign affairs and explained why a united country would be safer and stronger when dealing with other nations.

Together, these writers helped people understand and support the Constitution. Their ideas are still important today when we study how the U.S. government works.

For the civics test, you only need to name one writer. You can say: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, or Publius.

USCIS 128:82. What founding document was written in 1787?

OpenAI. (2026).  What founding document was written in 1787?  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliard

 The U.S. Constitution is the founding document that was written in 1787. It is the most important law in the United States.

After the American Revolution, the new country needed a stronger government. Leaders met in Philadelphia in 1787 to create a new plan. This meeting was called the Constitutional Convention.  

George Washington was the presiding officer of the Constitutional Covention.  James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Gouverneur Morris were the main writers of the Constitution.

The Constitution explains how the government works. It creates three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also describes the powers of each branch and how they share power.

The Constitution was later approved by the states. It has been changed over time with amendments, including the Bill of Rights, which protects the basic rights of the people.

Today, the Constitution is still the supreme law of the land and guides the government of the United States.

USCIS 128:81. There were 13 original states. Name five.

OpenAI. (2026).  There were 13 original states. Name five.  [AI-generated infographic]. OpenAI.  Edited by Jennifer Gagliard

The United States began with 13 original states. These states were first English or British colonies on the east coast of North America. After the American Revolution, they became the first states of the new country.

You only need to name five of the original states for the civics test, but it is helpful to know all 13. Here they are with simple information about how each colony began:

• New Hampshire was founded in 1623. It began as an English fishing and trading colony.
• Massachusetts was founded in 1620 at Plymouth and later in 1630 at Massachusetts Bay. It began with English settlers, including the Pilgrims and Puritans.
• Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams. He wanted a place with religious freedom.
• Connecticut was founded in 1636 by settlers from Massachusetts.
• New York was first founded by the Dutch in 1624 as New Netherland. The English took control in 1664 and renamed it New York.
• New Jersey was founded in 1664 after the English took the area from the Dutch.
• Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 by William Penn. It was created as a place for Quakers and for religious freedom.
• Delaware was first settled by the Dutch and Swedes in the 1600s and later came under English control.
• Maryland was founded in 1634 by Lord Baltimore as a colony where Catholics could live and practice their religion more freely.
• Virginia was founded in 1607 at Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.
• North Carolina was first settled by English colonists in the 1600s and became a separate colony in 1712.
• South Carolina was also part of Carolina at first and became a separate colony in 1712.
• Georgia was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe. It was the last of the 13 colonies.

These 13 colonies became the 13 original states:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

For the civics test, you can name any five. For example: Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.