How to Become a U.S. Citizen by Peterson's

Author:Peterson's
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Peterson's, a Nelnet Company
Published: 2011-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

Civics Resources

The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts in its collections—and many are now available online. If you take some time to explore the amazing wealth of information that is available through the Library’s Web site, you will find information about everything you need to know to pass the civics portion of your naturalization test.

In particular, the Library’s “American Memory” collection provides free and open access to historic maps, photos, documents, audio, and video. Here, you will find entire collections of information dedicated to such topics as government and law, culture and folklife, immigration and American expansion, women’s history, war and the military, and Native American history, to name just a few. The main Web address for the Library of Congress is http://www.loc.gov/index.html. To access the American Memory pages, start at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html.

The National Archives and Records Administration is known as the nation’s record keeper. Of all of the documents and materials that are created in the course of the nation’s business, only a very small portion (1 to 3 percent) is considered important enough to be kept forever. These documents are preserved and available to everyone in the National Archives. The main Web address for the Archive is http://archives.gov.

An especially good resource for your civics studies is the Archives’ “Charters of Freedom” online collection, which may be accessed at http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html. This collection of documents will take you chronologically through the events that established the United States. Starting in 1761 with the history surrounding what were initially English colonies, this historical overview progresses through the events of the American Revolution, presents the texts of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, explains the Louisiana Purchase, provides an overview of the Civil War, discusses the landmark case that established the Supreme Court’s fundamental function of judicial review, and examines the end of slavery, the country’s history of welcoming immigrants, and the establishment of voting rights. Even if you weren’t studying to pass a test, this is a fascinating overview of many of the most important events in U.S. history.

As you study to become a U.S. citizen, you should take advantage of the many other sources that provide free and easily accessible information. Your local library and school district are good places to continue your search for information and to find classes that may be offered to help you establish a solid grasp of the English language and understanding of the historic events that have made the United States the great country it is today.

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