Question 73: The colonists came to America for many reasons. Name one.
Official answers (any one counts)
USCIS accepts any of these answers. If the question asks for more than one, give as many as it asks.
- Freedom
- Political liberty
- Religious freedom
- Economic opportunity
- Escape persecution
Grandpa explains
They wanted freedom, kiddo: freedom of religion, a better life, and safety from persecution.
Careful: these are NOT the answer
These are the common mix-ups. The app uses them as traps so you practice.
- To serve the king
- To escape the cold
- To join the navy
On the 2008 test this is question 58
If you filed your N-400 before October 20, 2025, you take the 2008 version. Which one is mine?
What is one reason colonists came to America?
- freedom
- political liberty
- religious freedom
- economic opportunity
- practice their religion
- escape persecution
Video lesson on this topic: Colonies and Independence
More questions on this topic
- 74Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? ★
- 75What group of people was taken and sold as slaves?
- 76What war did the Americans fight to win independence from Britain?
- 77Name one reason why the Americans declared independence from Britain.
- 78Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? ★
- 79When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
Official sources:
- USCIS · 128 Civics Questions and Answers (2025 version), M-1778 (09/25) ↗ · checked October 6, 2026
The plain explanation is ours; the official answers are USCIS's, word for word.