Question 59 of 100 · 2008 test
Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
This question is from the 2008 test, which applies if you filed Form N-400 before Oct 20, 2025; later filers take the 2025 test of 128 questions - check your version on the official USCIS test-updates page.
Acceptable answers
- American Indians
- Native Americans
Explanation
American Indians, also called Native Americans, lived in America before Europeans arrived.
Why it matters
Recognizing the first inhabitants is part of an honest telling of the country's history.
The 65/20 special consideration
Question 59 is not in the 65/20 set. An applicant who is 65 or older and has been a lawful permanent resident for 20 years or more studies only the 20 marked questions, so this one would not be asked. Everyone else studies all 100.
Answers that get mixed up with this one
These are the wrong options the practice test puts beside this question. Each one is the correct answer to a different question, which is what makes it tempting.
- Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).answers Question 48: There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
- voteanswers Question 55: What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
- freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)answers Question 75: What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?
More Colonial Period and Independence questions
Questions the officer draws from the same part of the test. Studying them together is what keeps their answers apart.