Civics question 9 of 128
What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
Official answer
- Declaration of Independence
Source: official USCIS question list for the 2025 version of the civics test. This site is independent and not affiliated with USCIS.
Background
The Declaration of Independence said the American colonies were free from Britain. The Second Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, and approved the wording on July 4, which is the date the country celebrates. The document does three things in order: it states the principles that justify breaking away, it lists specific complaints against King George III, and only then declares the colonies to be free and independent states. Declaring independence and winning it were different matters, and the Revolutionary War continued until the fighting ended in 1781 and Britain formally recognized independence in 1783. Take care not to answer with the Constitution, which was written eleven years later to build a government, or the Articles of Confederation, which organized the states during the war itself.
This background section is written by US Citizenship Test Practice to explain the civics fact. It is not part of the USCIS question list, and the official answer above is the one to give at the interview.
Where this question sits
It is part of Principles of American Government, inside the American Government section of the test.
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