Don't know much about history? Test your knowledge of the Constitution, civil rights, and more.

• Author: Majerol, Veronica
• Position: A pop quiz!

Every few years, students across the U.S. take a test given by the U.S. Department of Education.

The "Nation's Report Card," as the test is sometimes called, is designed to gauge what students know in subjects like American history, math, reading, science, geography, and economics.

In 2010, the last time the history test was given, only 12 percent of high school seniors showed "proficient" performance.

With the next history quiz slated for early 2014, here's your chance to see how you might stack up: This quiz is adapted from the last few Nation's Report Cards. We hope you find it both challenging and fun.

Colonial America & the Constitution

1) The first permanent English settlement in North America was

1. St. Augustine.

2. Santa Fe.

3. Jamestown.

4. New Amsterdam.

   2) What happened in Europe in the 1400s and 1500s that led people to explore the Americas and establish colonies there?

1. The Black Plague caused many people to want to leave Europe.

2. Political and economic competition among European countries increased.

3. People needed to find new sources of manufactured goods.

4. Local nobles became more powerful and kings lost power.

   Read the passage, then answer questions 3 and 4.

   "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

   3) The passage is part of the

1. preamble to the United States Constitution.

2. Articles of Confederation.

3. Declaration of Independence,

4. Bill of Rights.

   4) One of the liberties the passage protects is the right to

1. receive a prompt trial when accused of a crime.

2. receive a trial by a jury of one's peers.

3. hold public meetings.

4. vote regardless of one's race or color.

   Read the following passage from the 14th Amendment, then answer question 5.

   "All persons born or naturalized in the United States ... are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person ... equal protection of the laws."

   5) What has been one of the long-term effects of this amendment?

1. It has increased the authority of states over their citizens.

2. It has increased the authority of Congress to levy taxes.

3. It has limited the power of the President over Congress.

4. It has increased the power of the federal government over the states.

   Slavery

   6) The purpose of the Underground Railroad was to

1. make transportation to the western frontier easier.

2. take Native Americans to reservations in the West.

3. provide an escape route for slaves fleeing their masters.

4. provide a way for European immigrants to move to the Midwest.

   7) Indentured servants were different from slaves because indentured servants

1. came from...