Why is it that we, in the rest of the world, all do standardized testing - in history, geography, math, biology, chemistry, physics, languages, etc,but Americans think that standardized testing is a problem?

The problem isn't standardized testing. All that testing does is show the teacher who knows their stuff, who doesn't, and it determines if the student is ready to proceed to the next grade.

Of course, by Grade 7 in the classical education system, there was no such thing as answers to questions in language or history, etc. We had to write long essays on things like 'The constitution of Red China,' 'WWII - the flaws in Hitler's military strategy' 'What caused the Roman Empire to fail' 'why did the Ottoman Empire flourish?' 'Explain the rise of the Moors.'

In order to write them, you were definitely had to not only know the history but be able to determine outcomes, etc.

You're blaming the wrong beast. The beast is the low standard of education in America.

In order to enter university in South Africa in my youth, you needed 3 languages, math, one science (biology, chemistry/physics). You also needed a high pass mark.

In addition, there were trade school paths, and college paths (not university) You could go to hotel school, teacher's college, nursing school, etc.

America doesn't teach grammar, so most people have a very low grasp of language. It doesn't teach second languages. From year one, we are all taught second languages. By high school, we begin third languages.

You needed to be able to write to publication standard in order to enter university.

Nothing wrong with standardized testing. What's wrong is the syllabus, and the fact that teachers are busy teaching life lessons instead of academic studies.