Preparing for Your US Citizenship Test: The American Civil War
Are you studying for your US citizenship interview? Learning American history can sometimes feel overwhelming, but understanding the story behind the facts makes it much easier to remember. Today, we are looking at one of the most important events in US history: the American Civil War.
If you visit Northern Georgia today, you might find a very peaceful and beautiful spot. However, 163 years ago in the 1860s, this same area was the site of a terrible, bloody battle. You might wonder why Americans were fighting each other. During this time, the country was deeply divided into two sides: the North and the South. These two sides disagreed on three major issues: how the economy should work, who was ultimately in charge of the government, and the terrible practice of slavery.
This conflict led to four long years of fighting. Finally, in 1865, the American Civil War concluded.
Following the end of the war, a major change happened in the United States. The government signed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This important document officially brought an end to slavery in the country. However, as history shows us, changing a law is only the first step. It still took many more years for the minds and hearts of the people to truly change.
Knowing this history is very helpful for your naturalization interview. During your test, the officer might ask you two very common history questions:
- “Name the war between the North and the South.”
- “What war ended slavery?”
Because you know the history, you will know the exact answer to both of these questions: the Civil War!
Keep practicing your history facts, and you will do great on your interview. Until next time, take care and happy studying!