Prepare for the FTCE Elementary Education K-6 Social Science subtest with these practice questions. This covers Florida history, US history, geography, civics, and economics.
Q: Columbus landing in the New World – (1451-1506)
Answer: Believed earth was a sphere. 4 voyages in effort to find a route to the east. Discovered Bahamas, Hispaniola, Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Central/South America. Opened western hemisphere to economic and political development by Europeans (Spanish, English, French).
Q: French and Indian War (1754-1763)
Answer: An extension of European 7 years war. Battle over colonial territory and wealth by French and English. Ended French cultural/political influence in N. America. England gained land but weakened rapport with Native Americans. Led to Revolutionary War.
Q: The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Answer: American war of independence. 13 colonies: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia. Wanted right of self-governance. Treaty of Paris recognized sovereignty in US.
Q: Declaration of Independence (1776)
Answer: Author Thomas Jefferson. Adopted by Second Continental Congress. Starts with necessity for document and why sought freedom. Laid foundation for new government.
Q: The Industrial Revolution (1830’s)
Answer: Transition from manual labor to machines. Creation of textiles, iron, and steam
Q: The Civil War (1861-1865)
Answer: Conflict between the Union and Confederacy. 11 slave states wanted to secede. It ended slavery. 1862 Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and strengthened the fed. Gov.
Q: Westward Expansion (1807-1912)
Answer: Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark/pioneer families swept westward. Removal of Native Americans under Andrew Jackson.
Q: WWI (1914-1918)
Answer: Initiated by conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Between Entente (Allied) powers: (Russian Empire, UK, France, Canada, Australia, Italy, Japan, Portugal, US) and Central Powers: German, Austria-Hungarian, Ottoman Empire (Turkey), and Bulgaria. Led to WWII.
Q: WWII (1939-1945)
Answer: Between Allies: Great Britain (Churchhill), USA (Roosevelt/Truman), Russia (Stalin), France (De Gaulle), China (Chiang Kai-shek). Axis Powers: Germany (Hitler), Italy (Mussolini), Japan (Hirohito). U.S. and USSR emerged as world superpower. Led to Cold war for 45 years. United Nations formed to prevent further global conflicts.
Q: Korean War (1950-1953)
Answer: – Division in Korea (communist North and American occupied south) caused by WWII. Peach treaty signed at Panmunjom.
Q: Civil Rights Act of 1964
Answer: Ended a 100 year quest by African Americans for racial equality. Outlawed racial segregation in US. Voided Jim Crow laws in southern states, prohibited racial discrimination in schools, public places, and places of employment.
Q: Vietnam War (U.S. involved 1959-1975)
Answer: – Fought between communist North Vietnam and government South Vietnam. U.S supported south until 1973 until Congressed passed Case-Church Amendment for anti-war movement. N. Korea captured S. Korea Saigon (Fall of Saigon). Marked end of war and beginning of reunified Korea under communist rule.
Q: Persian Gulf War (Aug. 1990-Feb. 1991)
Answer: Authorized by United Nations between Iraq and 34 Nations. Purpose to liberate Kuwait and expel Iraqi forces. Operation Desert Storm was USA name for land and air operations involved in war.
Q: Alexander the Great
Answer: Kind of Macedonia in 336 B.C.; Conquered Persian Empire; Founded Alexandria in Egypt; created massive empire; Restored order to Ancient Greece.
Q: Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)
Answer: First astronomer to place sun at center of universe.
Q: Galileo Galilei (1564-1642
Answer: Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, philosopher responsible for birth of modern science
Q: Isaac Newton
Answer: defining gravity and laws of motion.
Q: John Locke
Answer: British Enlightenment writer. Ideas influenced Dec. of Independence, state constitutions, US constitution. Believed people born with right of life, liberty, and property.
Q: Tomas Jefferson
Answer: 3rd President. A Founding Father. Played role in Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition
Q: Florida History
Answer: Initially inhabited by various tribes like TimicuanNamed Florida by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513English, French, and Spanish established settlements during 1500s and 1600sSt. Augustine, founded by Spanish came to serve as the capitals British east and Spanish west colonies.Britain tried to develop Florida through importation of immigrants of Labor.Spain regained control after America Revolutionary war.1845, Florida became 27th state in USA.Land intensely developed prior to Great Depression.Economy adversely effected by WWII
Q: Geography
Answer: the study of Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and people
Q: 6 Essential Elements of Geography
Answer: location, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, uses of geography
Q: Location (the world in spatial terms)
Answer: Relative or absolute. Spatial terms reference organization of people and places.
Q: Cartographers
Answer: Mapmakers
Q: Grid
Answer: Vertical and horizontal lines on map
Q: Prime Meridian
Answer: Vertical, imaginary line that divides the Earth into eastern and western halves. Runs through Greenwich England.
Q: International Date Line
Answer: Where the date officially changes each day.
Q: Hemispheres
Answer: Northern and southern halves of the Earth
Q: Scale
Answer: Items on map are drawn to size.
Q: Symbol
Answer: Representations of real things on a map
Q: Legend
Answer: (key) explains symbols, colors, lines…
Q: Compass Rose
Answer: N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW
Q: Oceans
Answer: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Artic, Southern (2000)
Q: Relief Map
Answer: Show shape of land’s surface; provide detail through color
Q: Thematic map
Answer: Show specific subjects/topics (human, climate animal pop.)
Q: Political map
Answer: Show governmental boundaries of countries, states, countries. Identify major cities and significant bodies of water.
Q: Physical maps
Answer: Show country borders, major cities, water, deserts, mountains, plains
Q: Regions
Answer: A wide ranging geographic area containing similar features. (caverns, deltas, deserts, hill, plateaus)
Q: Continental drift
Answer: Theory of plate tectonics. Refers to movement of Earth’s crust over time.
Q: Demography
Answer: Branch of science concerned with the wellbeing of society; study of human populations interested in analyzing changes in size, movement, crime rates, education levels…
Q: Government
Answer: The agency in which a governing body functions and exercises authority.
Q: Democracy
Answer: Government by the people. Provides for equality and inalienable rights for citizens. Citizens elect officials to make important decisions on their behalves. Responsible for administering justice, education systems, maintaining roads, statistics about society, overseeing national defense. Local/State/Federal levels of government.
Q: Mayor
Answer: Leader of local government. Works with city council.
Q: Governor
Answer: Leader of state government. Works with state senators of Senate and state representatives of House of Representatives
Q: Legislative – Congress
Answer: Comprised of the Senate and House of Representatives; established by Article I of Constitution
Q: Judicial – Supreme Court
Answer: Can determine established laws to be unconstitutional; led by supreme court justices appointed by President. Article III
Q: Executive
Answer: Led by President and Vice President; leads country and military. Appoints justices; can veto rulings made by congress; Article II
Q: Secretary of State
Answer: (appointed by P) and National Security Council advises P on foreign policy.
Q: Ambassadors
Answer: (Executive Brach members) reside in other countries to lobby for US in international meetings.
Q: Magna Carta 1215
Answer: -England 1st modern document to limit powers of gov.
Q: o U.S. District Courts
Answer: Trial courts; each state has at least 1 district court; hears nearly all categories of federal cases. 94 judicial districts
Q: Supreme Court
Answer: Highest court of appeals in US; established Article III, Section I of US constitution. 1 chief justice and 8 associate justices appointed by president. Power of Judicial Review
Q: • State Courts
Answer: Each state has own system of courts. Limited jurisdiction and hear minor cases.
Q: Electoral College
Answer: established by Article II in US Constitution in 1787. Part of Checks and Balances system.
Q: Electoral College
Answer: Gives equal weight to states with smaller populations and assist voters in making informed decisions regarding highest elected officials.
Q: Electoral College
Answer: Body of elected reps (electors) chosen by voters in each state
Q: Electoral College
Answer: Electors pledge to vote for the candidate of their party based on pop. vote.
Q: Electoral College
Answer: Meet after citizen vote; cast ballots based on the public vote for P and VP
Q: Electoral College
Answer: 2009 538 electors in US. 270 electoral votes required to win.
Q: Electoral College
Answer: States assigned a number of electoral votes based on number of senators and representatives. Florida 2 senators/25 reps. 27 electoral votes.
Q: Civic education/citizen education
Answer: Understand certain rights as citizens and particular responsibilities as well.
Q: Constitution
Answer: Preamble, 7 articles, 27 amendments
Q: Article I
Answer: Legislative Branch; 9 sections
Q: Article II
Answer: Executive Branch; 4 sections
Q: Article III
Answer: Judicial Branch; 3 sections
Q: Article IV
Answer: The States; 4 sections
Q: Article V
Answer: Amendments
Q: Article VI
Answer: Supreme Law, Oaths of Office and Debts
Q: Article VII
Answer: Approving the Constitution
Q: Bill of Rights
Answer: (Amendments) First 10 amendments of Constitution
Q: First
Answer: 5 freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, petition
Q: Second
Answer: Keep and bear arms
Q: Third
Answer: Do not have to provide housing to soldiers during peacetime
Q: Fourth
Answer: Right to privacy
Q: Fifth
Answer: Right to due process of the law
Q: Sixth
Answer: Right to public and speedy trial in front of impartial jury
Q: Seventh
Answer: Civil lawsuits (property/money) right to jury trial
Q: Eighth
Answer: No cruel and unusual punishment and should fit crime
Q: Ninth
Answer: Citizens have other rights not stated in Bill of Rights
Q: Tenth
Answer: Limits gov. to only powers provided in US Constitution
Q: Economics
Answer: The science that deals with the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services.
Q: USA is mixed (market) economy
Answer: Gov. and private business
Q: Human Resource
Answer: A person used to accomplish a goal.
Q: Capital resources
Answer: any asset used in the production of goods and services
Q: Free enterprise
Answer: Emphasizes private ownership; supply and demand
Q: Fiscal Policy
Answer: Government spending policies that affect interest rates, tax rates, and government spending; policies aid in government control of economy.
Q: GDP Gross Domestic Product
Answer: – total monetary value of all goods and services produced in a nation during a specific time frame.
Q: Inflation
Answer: A persistent, general increase in prices of time
Q: Stagflation
Answer: High rate of inflation accompanied by rising unemployment
Q: Recession
Answer: Slowing of economic activity
Q: Depression
Answer: Long-lasting recession
Q: Scarcity
Answer: Insufficient supply or shortage of goods and services affected by consumer making decisions.
Q: Economic Institutions
Answer: Organizations created to pursue particular endeavors
Q: Bank
Answer: Depository; financial institution
Q: Credit Union
Answer: Depository; financial institution; establishment owned, controlled, operated by its members. Provides financial services like commercial banks. Lower interests rates.
Q: Stock Market
Answer: Place where stocks and bonds are exchanged. Stock exchange: New York Stock Exchange, National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ).
Q: Federal Reserve Banks
Answer: Central bank of US federal banking system. Located in each 12 districts. Involved in setting of national monetary policy.
Q: Government agency
Answer: www.usa.gov
Q: National Council of Social Studies
Answer: www.socialstudies.org
Q: National Geographic
Answer: www.nationalgeographic.com
Q: Story mapping
Answer: history frames or sequence of event charts
Q: Instructional Resources, Methods, and Assessment
Answer: o Anticipation guides, double-entry journals, K-W-L chats (assessment tool), 5-W+H Charts (Who, what, when, where, why, how), Semantic feature analysis charts, graphic organizers, learning logs, field trips, learning centers, digital media