American Symbols - What They Mean and What the Civics Test Asks

Updated: October 30, 2026

The main American symbols on the citizenship test are the flag (13 stripes for the original colonies, 50 stars for the states), the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner," the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, the motto "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of many, one"), and the Pledge of Allegiance. Here is the meaning behind each, with the exact answers USCIS accepts.

The American flag

13 stripes

The flag has 13 horizontal stripes, 7 red and 6 white. They stand for the 13 original colonies that declared independence from Britain in 1776 (see the American Revolution on the civics test).

Why does the flag have 13 stripes? (asterisk question) Accepted answers: (because there were) 13 original colonies or (because the stripes) represent the original colonies.

50 stars

The blue field in the corner holds 50 white stars, one for each state. The number of stars has changed as states joined. The current 50-star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the 50th state.

Why does the flag have 50 stars? Accepted answers: one star for each state, each star represents a state, or there are 50 states.

Flag customs

Flag Day is June 14, marking the date in 1777 when the Continental Congress adopted the first official flag. The U.S. Flag Code gives guidelines on displaying the flag respectfully, such as not letting it touch the ground. These details are not on the test but are good to know.

The national anthem - "The Star-Spangled Banner"

The words were written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, during the War of 1812. Key watched the British bombard Fort McHenry in Baltimore through the night. When he saw the American flag still flying at dawn, he wrote the poem that became the anthem. Congress made it the official national anthem in 1931.

The first verse opens:

"O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, / What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?"

What is the name of the national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner. The test does not ask you to sing it or know the words, only the name.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France, designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with an internal structure engineered by Gustave Eiffel. It was dedicated in 1886. It stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor and was, for generations of immigrants arriving by ship, one of their first sights of America. Nearby Ellis Island was the country's busiest immigration station from 1892 to 1954.

A plaque inside the pedestal carries Emma Lazarus's poem "The New Colossus," with the famous lines "Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Where is the Statue of Liberty? Accepted answers: New York (Harbor) or Liberty Island. USCIS also accepts New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).

"E Pluribus Unum" and "In God We Trust"

E Pluribus Unum is Latin for "Out of many, one." It refers to many states (and many people) forming one nation. It appears on the Great Seal of the United States and on U.S. coins.

The Nation's first motto was "E Pluribus Unum." What does that mean? Accepted answers: Out of many, one or We all become one.

"In God We Trust" became the official national motto by law in 1956 and appears on U.S. currency. The test only asks about E Pluribus Unum.

The Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge is recited facing the flag, usually standing with the right hand over the heart:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? (asterisk question) Accepted answers: the United States or the flag.

Do not mix up the Pledge with the Oath of Allegiance you take at your naturalization ceremony. The oath is a formal legal promise that makes you a citizen. See what to expect at the oath ceremony.

Other national symbols

The bald eagle: chosen for the Great Seal in 1782 and formally designated the national bird by law in December 2024.
The Great Seal: shows the eagle holding an olive branch (peace) and arrows (war), with "E Pluribus Unum" on a ribbon.
The Liberty Bell: in Philadelphia, a symbol of independence and later of the abolition movement.
The White House, U.S. Capitol, and Lincoln Memorial: in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, and the answer to "What is the capital of the United States?"

Symbols questions on the 2025 test

66: What we show loyalty to in the Pledge (asterisk)
119: Capital of the United States (Washington, D.C.)
120: Where the Statue of Liberty is
121: Why the flag has 13 stripes (asterisk)
122: Why the flag has 50 stars
123: Name of the national anthem
124: What "E Pluribus Unum" means

These are some of the easiest points on the test, so make sure you get them every time. Holidays come right after symbols on the official list; see federal holidays. Then review all civics questions, and use the best ways to study for the harder sections.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the American flag have 13 stripes?

Because there were 13 original colonies. The stripes represent those colonies.

What do the 50 stars on the flag mean?

There is one star for each of the 50 states.

What is the national anthem of the United States?

"The Star-Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 and made the official anthem in 1931.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

In New York Harbor, on Liberty Island. USCIS also accepts New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson River.

What does E Pluribus Unum mean?

"Out of many, one." USCIS also accepts "We all become one."

Prepare for the civics test with Civio: every official question from the 2025 USCIS civics test, Exam Mode with your state's questions, and spaced repetition.

Informational article, not legal advice. Civio is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency; always check current requirements at uscis.gov.