Learn the US Territories with the Washington DC Quiz: Capitals, Status and Facts
When most people say “the United States”, they mean the 50 states. But the United States is bigger than the states. Five inhabited territories belong to the United States too — and so does the District of Columbia. The washington dc quiz is the fastest way to learn them all.
Five Territories, Two Oceans
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are in the Caribbean. Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands are in the Pacific. Learn that split first and half of the quiz gets easier: a question about the Caribbean can only have two answers.
| Place | Capital | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | San Juan | Caribbean |
| Guam | Hagåtña | Pacific |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Charlotte Amalie | Caribbean |
| American Samoa | Pago Pago | Pacific |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Saipan | Pacific |
Status: Unincorporated — All of Them
Every territory is unincorporated: none is a state. The details change. Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands are commonwealths. Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are organised. American Samoa is unorganised.
The question that catches everyone out: in American Samoa, people born there are U.S. nationals, not U.S. citizens. In the other four territories they are citizens. One exception, one fact.
Capitals First
The Capitals Drill asks six questions: Washington, D.C., San Juan, Hagåtña, Charlotte Amalie, Pago Pago and Saipan. Run it three times and the capitals are yours.
Watch out for the trap: the biggest town is not always the capital. Guam’s biggest town is Dededo; its capital is Hagåtña. American Samoa’s biggest town is Tafuna; its capital is Pago Pago. Puerto Rico is the exception: San Juan is both.
Learn Them in a Day
Day 1: D.C. — three electoral votes, 23rd Amendment, no senators. Day 2: the Caribbean pair. Day 3: the Pacific three. Day 4: the Capitals Drill. Day 5: the Main Quiz.
How many territories are there?
Five inhabited territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Can people in the territories vote for President?
No. Residents of the territories cannot vote in presidential elections. D.C. can, because the 23rd Amendment gave it three electoral votes.
What is the capital of Guam?
Hagåtña — called Agana until 1998. Dededo is the largest town, but Hagåtña is the capital.
Is Washington, D.C. a state?
No. Washington, D.C. is a federal district. It has no governor, no senators, and one nonvoting delegate.
Are the territories states?
No. All five territories are unincorporated — part of the United States, but not states.
Ready to test yourself? Open the washington dc quiz, and if you want the bigger picture, try the us states quiz map game too.
