Union
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · Civics
Definition
The states joined as one nation; "preserving the Union" was Lincoln's war aim.
Union in plain English
"The Union" is just a name for all the states joined together as one single country, the United States. During the Civil War, some Southern states tried to break away and form their own separate nation, and President Lincoln's main goal was "preserving the Union," meaning keeping the country whole instead of letting it split in two. Think of it like a team where a few players want to quit and start a rival team, and the captain fights to keep everyone on one squad. When you hear "the Union" on the test, picture the states staying together as one nation.
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