Lesson 7 · 12 min
Learn about the nation’s capital, the Statue of Liberty, the oceans and longest rivers, the states on the borders with Canada and Mexico, and the U.S. territories.
The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. The letters D.C. mean District of Columbia. It is a federal district, not a state, and it sits on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia.
Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court all work in Washington, D.C. Do not confuse it with Washington State, which is far away in the northwest of the country.
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. France gave the statue to the United States, and it was dedicated (officially opened) in 1886. For many immigrants arriving by ship, it was one of the first things they saw, and it became a symbol of freedom.
The Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast of the United States, next to states like California, Oregon, and Washington. The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast, next to states like New York, Virginia, and Florida.
A simple way to remember: the Atlantic is between the United States and Europe, and the Pacific is between the United States and Asia.
The two longest rivers are the Missouri River and the Mississippi River. The Missouri starts in the mountains of Montana and joins the Mississippi near St. Louis. The Mississippi flows south through the middle of the country to the sea, passing New Orleans, Louisiana. Each river is more than 2,000 miles long.
Canada is the neighbor to the north. Thirteen states border Canada: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska.
Some of these states touch Canada across water. For example, Pennsylvania and Ohio meet Canada in Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes. Alaska is not connected to the other states, but it shares a long land border with Canada.
Mexico is the neighbor to the south. Four states border Mexico: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Texas has the longest border with Mexico.
A territory is a place that belongs to the United States but is not a state. The five territories where people live are Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are in the Caribbean Sea. Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Remember that Hawaii and Alaska are states, not territories. The United States has 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the territories.
Washington, D.C. is the capital, where the president, Congress and the Supreme Court work. D.C. means District of Columbia, and it is not part of any state. It was named after George Washington.
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, close to New Jersey. It was a gift from the people of France and was dedicated in 1886. For many immigrants arriving by ship, it was one of the first things they saw.
The two longest rivers in the United States are the Missouri and the Mississippi. The Missouri River joins the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri. The Mississippi then flows south to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Pacific Ocean is on the West Coast of the United States. California, Oregon, and Washington are on this coast. Memory hook: the sun sets in the west, over the Pacific.
The Atlantic Ocean is on the East Coast of the United States. Cities such as New York, Boston, and Miami are on or near this coast. The original 13 colonies were all along the Atlantic.
A U.S. territory is an area that belongs to the United States but is not a state. The five territories with people living in them are Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. You only need to name one.
Thirteen states border Canada, from Maine in the east to Washington in the west, plus Alaska. Alaska has the longest border with Canada of any state. You only need to name one.
Four states border Mexico: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Texas has the longest border with Mexico. You only need to name one.
The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. "D.C." stands for District of Columbia, and it is not part of any state. Congress, the President (in the White House), and the Supreme Court are all there.
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It was a gift from France and was dedicated in 1886. Answers such as New Jersey, near New York City, or on the Hudson River are also accepted.
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Lesson text is original study material based on the USCIS 2025 Civics Test Study Guide topics. Editorial status: draft, pending expert review.