diff --git a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/generic.py b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/generic.py
index e392cbf909..f63c5bf6e7 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/generic.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/generic.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 
@@ -12,7 +14,7 @@ class GenericViewsSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
         expected = ''
         for username in User.objects.values_list("username", flat=True):
             expected += "<url><loc>%s/users/%s/</loc></url>" % (self.base_url, username)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 %s
 </urlset>
diff --git a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/http.py b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/http.py
index d71907e09a..5cff67c238 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/http.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/http.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_simple_sitemap_index(self):
         "A simple sitemap index can be rendered"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/index.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <sitemap><loc>%s/simple/sitemap-simple.xml</loc></sitemap>
 </sitemapindex>
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_simple_sitemap_custom_index(self):
         "A simple sitemap index can be rendered with a custom template"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/custom-index.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <!-- This is a customised template -->
 <sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <sitemap><loc>%s/simple/sitemap-simple.xml</loc></sitemap>
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_simple_sitemap_section(self):
         "A simple sitemap section can be rendered"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/sitemap-simple.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <url><loc>%s/location/</loc><lastmod>%s</lastmod><changefreq>never</changefreq><priority>0.5</priority></url>
 </urlset>
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_simple_sitemap(self):
         "A simple sitemap can be rendered"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/sitemap.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <url><loc>%s/location/</loc><lastmod>%s</lastmod><changefreq>never</changefreq><priority>0.5</priority></url>
 </urlset>
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_simple_custom_sitemap(self):
         "A simple sitemap can be rendered with a custom template"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/custom-sitemap.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <!-- This is a customised template -->
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <url><loc>%s/location/</loc><lastmod>%s</lastmod><changefreq>never</changefreq><priority>0.5</priority></url>
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
         # installed doesn't raise an exception
         Site._meta.installed = False
         response = self.client.get('/simple/sitemap.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <url><loc>http://testserver/location/</loc><lastmod>%s</lastmod><changefreq>never</changefreq><priority>0.5</priority></url>
 </urlset>
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class HTTPSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
         Check that a cached sitemap index can be rendered (#2713).
         """
         response = self.client.get('/cached/index.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <sitemap><loc>%s/cached/sitemap-simple.xml</loc></sitemap>
 </sitemapindex>
diff --git a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/https.py b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/https.py
index d4f9053fc8..34d992fc78 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/https.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sitemaps/tests/https.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 from datetime import date
 
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
@@ -11,7 +13,7 @@ class HTTPSSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_secure_sitemap_index(self):
         "A secure sitemap index can be rendered"
         response = self.client.get('/secure/index.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <sitemap><loc>%s/secure/sitemap-simple.xml</loc></sitemap>
 </sitemapindex>
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ class HTTPSSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_secure_sitemap_section(self):
         "A secure sitemap section can be rendered"
         response = self.client.get('/secure/sitemap-simple.xml')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <url><loc>%s/location/</loc><lastmod>%s</lastmod><changefreq>never</changefreq><priority>0.5</priority></url>
 </urlset>
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ class HTTPSDetectionSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_sitemap_index_with_https_request(self):
         "A sitemap index requested in HTTPS is rendered with HTTPS links"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/index.xml', **self.extra)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <sitemap><loc>%s/simple/sitemap-simple.xml</loc></sitemap>
 </sitemapindex>
@@ -43,7 +45,7 @@ class HTTPSDetectionSitemapTests(SitemapTestsBase):
     def test_sitemap_section_with_https_request(self):
         "A sitemap section requested in HTTPS is rendered with HTTPS links"
         response = self.client.get('/simple/sitemap-simple.xml', **self.extra)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"""<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
 <url><loc>%s/location/</loc><lastmod>%s</lastmod><changefreq>never</changefreq><priority>0.5</priority></url>
 </urlset>
diff --git a/tests/modeltests/test_client/models.py b/tests/modeltests/test_client/models.py
index 399d2906a8..1d9c999f21 100644
--- a/tests/modeltests/test_client/models.py
+++ b/tests/modeltests/test_client/models.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class ClientTest(TestCase):
                                     content_type="text/xml")
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
         self.assertEqual(response.templates[0].name, "Book template")
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, "Blink - Malcolm Gladwell")
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"Blink - Malcolm Gladwell")
 
     def test_redirect(self):
         "GET a URL that redirects elsewhere"
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
index 09be55baba..c86d35ca3e 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/tests.py
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ class CustomModelAdminTest(AdminViewBasicTest):
     def testCustomAdminSiteView(self):
         self.client.login(username='super', password='secret')
         response = self.client.get('/test_admin/%s/my_view/' % self.urlbit)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, "Django is a magical pony!")
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b"Django is a magical pony!")
 
 def get_perm(Model, perm):
     """Return the permission object, for the Model"""
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/cache/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/cache/tests.py
index 4ffca2d458..24cab64c10 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/cache/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/cache/tests.py
@@ -1592,43 +1592,43 @@ class CacheMiddlewareTest(TestCase):
 
         # Request the view once
         response = default_view(request, '1')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 1')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 1')
 
         # Request again -- hit the cache
         response = default_view(request, '2')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 1')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 1')
 
         # Requesting the same view with the explicit cache should yield the same result
         response = explicit_default_view(request, '3')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 1')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 1')
 
         # Requesting with a prefix will hit a different cache key
         response = explicit_default_with_prefix_view(request, '4')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 4')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 4')
 
         # Hitting the same view again gives a cache hit
         response = explicit_default_with_prefix_view(request, '5')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 4')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 4')
 
         # And going back to the implicit cache will hit the same cache
         response = default_with_prefix_view(request, '6')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 4')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 4')
 
         # Requesting from an alternate cache won't hit cache
         response = other_view(request, '7')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 7')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 7')
 
         # But a repeated hit will hit cache
         response = other_view(request, '8')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 7')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 7')
 
         # And prefixing the alternate cache yields yet another cache entry
         response = other_with_prefix_view(request, '9')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 9')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 9')
 
         # Request from the alternate cache with a new prefix and a custom timeout
         response = other_with_timeout_view(request, '10')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 10')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 10')
 
         # But if we wait a couple of seconds...
         time.sleep(2)
@@ -1636,38 +1636,38 @@ class CacheMiddlewareTest(TestCase):
         # ... the default cache will still hit
         cache = get_cache('default')
         response = default_view(request, '11')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 1')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 1')
 
         # ... the default cache with a prefix will still hit
         response = default_with_prefix_view(request, '12')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 4')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 4')
 
         # ... the explicit default cache will still hit
         response = explicit_default_view(request, '13')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 1')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 1')
 
         # ... the explicit default cache with a prefix will still hit
         response = explicit_default_with_prefix_view(request, '14')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 4')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 4')
 
         # .. but a rapidly expiring cache won't hit
         response = other_view(request, '15')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 15')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 15')
 
         # .. even if it has a prefix
         response = other_with_prefix_view(request, '16')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 16')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 16')
 
         # ... but a view with a custom timeout will still hit
         response = other_with_timeout_view(request, '17')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 10')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 10')
 
         # And if we wait a few more seconds
         time.sleep(2)
 
         # the custom timeouot cache will miss
         response = other_with_timeout_view(request, '18')
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'Hello World 18')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Hello World 18')
 
 
 @override_settings(
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/conditional_processing/models.py b/tests/regressiontests/conditional_processing/models.py
index d1a8ac605b..dacea34a83 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/conditional_processing/models.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/conditional_processing/models.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding:utf-8 -*-
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from django.test import TestCase
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ class ConditionalGet(TestCase):
 
     def assertNotModified(self, response):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 304)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, '')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'')
 
     def testWithoutConditions(self):
         response = self.client.get('/condition/')
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/templates/response.py b/tests/regressiontests/templates/response.py
index 3c45b7a9d4..93919b95cd 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/templates/response.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/templates/response.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 import os
 import pickle
 import time
@@ -29,16 +31,16 @@ class SimpleTemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
     def test_template_resolving(self):
         response = SimpleTemplateResponse('first/test.html')
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual('First template\n', response.content)
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'First template\n')
 
         templates = ['foo.html', 'second/test.html', 'first/test.html']
         response = SimpleTemplateResponse(templates)
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual('Second template\n', response.content)
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'Second template\n')
 
         response = self._response()
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'foo')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'foo')
 
     def test_explicit_baking(self):
         # explicit baking
@@ -50,17 +52,17 @@ class SimpleTemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
     def test_render(self):
         # response is not re-rendered without the render call
         response = self._response().render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'foo')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'foo')
 
         # rebaking doesn't change the rendered content
         response.template_name = Template('bar{{ baz }}')
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'foo')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'foo')
 
         # but rendered content can be overridden by manually
         # setting content
         response.content = 'bar'
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'bar')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'bar')
 
     def test_iteration_unrendered(self):
         # unrendered response raises an exception on iteration
@@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ class SimpleTemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
         # iteration works for rendered responses
         response = self._response().render()
         res = [x for x in response]
-        self.assertEqual(res, ['foo'])
+        self.assertEqual(res, [b'foo'])
 
     def test_content_access_unrendered(self):
         # unrendered response raises an exception when content is accessed
@@ -89,7 +91,7 @@ class SimpleTemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
     def test_content_access_rendered(self):
         # rendered response content can be accessed
         response = self._response().render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'foo')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'foo')
 
     def test_set_content(self):
         # content can be overriden
@@ -97,23 +99,23 @@ class SimpleTemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(response.is_rendered)
         response.content = 'spam'
         self.assertTrue(response.is_rendered)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'spam')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'spam')
         response.content = 'baz'
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'baz')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'baz')
 
     def test_dict_context(self):
         response = self._response('{{ foo }}{{ processors }}',
                                   {'foo': 'bar'})
         self.assertEqual(response.context_data, {'foo': 'bar'})
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'bar')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'bar')
 
     def test_context_instance(self):
         response = self._response('{{ foo }}{{ processors }}',
                                   Context({'foo': 'bar'}))
         self.assertEqual(response.context_data.__class__, Context)
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'bar')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'bar')
 
     def test_kwargs(self):
         response = self._response(content_type = 'application/json', status=504)
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ class SimpleTemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
 
         # When the content is rendered, all the callbacks are invoked, too.
         response.render()
-        self.assertEqual('First template\n', response.content)
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'First template\n')
         self.assertEqual(post, ['post1','post2'])
 
 
@@ -202,17 +204,17 @@ class TemplateResponseTest(TestCase):
 
     def test_render(self):
         response = self._response('{{ foo }}{{ processors }}').render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'yes')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'yes')
 
     def test_render_with_requestcontext(self):
         response = self._response('{{ foo }}{{ processors }}',
                                   {'foo': 'bar'}).render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'baryes')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'baryes')
 
     def test_render_with_context(self):
         response = self._response('{{ foo }}{{ processors }}',
                                   Context({'foo': 'bar'})).render()
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'bar')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'bar')
 
     def test_kwargs(self):
         response = self._response(content_type = 'application/json',
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/urlpatterns_reverse/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/urlpatterns_reverse/tests.py
index 500a0e0327..207cc56488 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/urlpatterns_reverse/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/urlpatterns_reverse/tests.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 Unit tests for reverse URL lookups.
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured, ViewDoesNotExist
@@ -405,8 +405,8 @@ class RequestURLconfTests(TestCase):
     def test_urlconf(self):
         response = self.client.get('/test/me/')
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'outer:/test/me/,'
-                                           'inner:/inner_urlconf/second_test/')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'outer:/test/me/,'
+                                           b'inner:/inner_urlconf/second_test/')
         response = self.client.get('/inner_urlconf/second_test/')
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
         response = self.client.get('/second_test/')
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ class RequestURLconfTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 404)
         response = self.client.get('/second_test/')
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
-        self.assertEqual(response.content, 'outer:,inner:/second_test/')
+        self.assertEqual(response.content, b'outer:,inner:/second_test/')
 
     def test_urlconf_overridden_with_null(self):
         settings.MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES += (