Chapter 7: U.S. Geography
The United States is a vast and varied country — stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, bordered by Canada in the north and Mexico in the south, and encompassing everything from tropical islands to arctic tundra. For the civics test, geography questions tend to be precise and factual: how many states, which ocean borders which coast, which countries border the U.S., and what are the major physical features. This chapter covers everything you need to know.
What This Chapter Covers
The first subchapter focuses on the 50 states, U.S. borders, and the major geographical features of the country — its mountain ranges and its two longest rivers. The second covers U.S. territories, Washington D.C., and the key facts about each that could appear on the test.
Geography questions on the civics test tend to focus on specific numbers and names rather than broad concepts. The most frequently tested facts are: how many states (50), what the two bordering countries are (Canada and Mexico), which oceans border the U.S. (Atlantic and Pacific), and the names of the two major mountain ranges (Appalachian and Rocky). Know these cold.
Why This Matters for the Civics Test
Geography is one of the more straightforward sections of the civics test — the facts are clear-cut and there is no ambiguity. Knowing the names of the two countries that border the United States, which states border each of those countries, the names of the two coasts’ oceans, and the locations of the major mountain ranges will cover the vast majority of what the test asks. This chapter makes sure none of those details get missed.
What You'll Learn in This Chapter
- 50 states — how many there are, when the last state joined, and what the flag’s stars represent.
- U.S. borders — the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Canada (north), and Mexico (south).
- States bordering Canada — 13 states, including Alaska.
- States bordering Mexico — 4 states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
- Mountain ranges — the Appalachian Mountains (east) and the Rocky Mountains (west).
- Major rivers — the Mississippi River and the Missouri River.
- U.S. territories — the five territories that are part of the U.S. but are not states.
- Washington, D.C. — the capital of the United States, what “D.C.” stands for, and its unique status.