Ch 38: FTCE Social Science: Westward Expansion
About This Chapter
FTCE Social Science: Westward Expansion - Chapter Summary
From presidents to wars and legislation, the text and video lessons in this chapter focus on major events during the 19th century. You'll review why the westward expansion occurred along with the positive and negative impacts of this migratory movement. These lessons will prepare you to answer questions in the U.S. history section of the FTCE Social Science exam and result in your being able to do the following:
- Relate details about the Oregon Trail
- Describe how Texas was annexed into the U.S.
- Detail highlights of John Tyler's presidency during the era of westward expansion
- Summarize the causes and aftermath of the Mexican-American War
- Illustrate the height of expansion during the California Gold Rush
- Note how the Homestead Act of 1852 played a role in westward expansion
The text and video lessons highlight key terms, names and laws that you will need to know for the FTCE Social Science exam. You can further prepare for the test by taking the accompanying quizzes that assess what you have retained and help you identify the areas in which you might need further review.

1. The Oregon Trail: Westward Migration to the Pacific Ocean
The desire to expand America lead to a westward migration to the Pacific Ocean and the annexation of the Oregon Trail. Learn about the history of American westward expansion, executive expansionists, reasons for expansion, and how expansion helped to achieve manifest destiny.

2. Manifest Destiny's Texas Annexation Problem
Learn how the early Amerian idealogy of manifest destiny conflicted with the annexation of Texas into the United States of America. Take a closer look at the history of the Republic of Texas, how the problems with annexing Texas and slavery were related, and how Texas finally became a state in 1845.

3. President John Tyler: American Expansion and Sectional Concerns
John Tyler's presidency was rife with opposition from members of the United States Congress, including their making him the first president to be impeached. Learn more about Tyler's accomplishments in pushing for American expansion, and how many southerners left the Whig Party to join the Democrats.

4. The Mexican-American War, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo & the Wilmot Proviso
The Mexican-American War was controversial and complex. Explore the roots of the war and learn about the Polk's War, the political war, the media war, the war on the battlefields, and the Treaty of Guadalupe.

5. Election of 1848 and the California Gold Rush
Study the election of 1848 and how it was connected to the California Gold Rush. Learn about the election of General Zachary Taylor in 1848, the discovery of gold in California, the ensuring gold rush of 1849, and California's application for statehood.

6. What is the Homestead Act of 1862? - Definition & Summary
The Homestead Act of 1862 provided land ownership for US citizens, but the said Act faced many controversies. Discover how the Homestead Act of 1862 came into effect, its historical background, and the challenges its beneficiaries overcame.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the FTCE Social Science 6-12 (037) Study Guide & Practice Test course
- About the FTCE Social Science Test
- FTCE Social Science: Introduction to Geography
- FTCE Social Science: Earth's Spheres & Internal Structure
- FTCE Social Science: Human Movement & Settlements
- FTCE Social Science: Tools for Geography
- FTCE Social Science: Scarcity, Choice & the Production Possibilities Curve
- FTCE Social Science: Economic Systems & Markets
- FTCE Social Science: Factors in Global Economics
- FTCE Social Science: Consumer Decisions & Credit
- FTCE Social Science: The US Constitution
- FTCE Social Science: American Government
- FTCE Social Science: The Election Process
- FTCE Social Science: State & Local Governments
- FTCE Social Science: US Foreign Policy
- FTCE Social Science: Political Systems
- FTCE Social Science: Rights & Responsibilities of US Citizens
- FTCE Social Science: Early Civilizations of World History
- FTCE Social Science: Ancient Civilizations in the Near East
- FTCE Social Science: History of Ancient Greece
- FTCE Social Science: The Rise & Fall of the Roman Empire
- FTCE Social Science: Early Indian Civilization
- FTCE Social Science: Early Chinese Civilization
- FTCE Social Science: African History
- FTCE Social Science: The History of Asia
- FTCE Social Science: Pre-European Civilizations in North America
- FTCE Social Science: The Late Middle Ages
- FTCE Social Science: The Renaissance in Europe
- FTCE Social Science: The Reformation Across Europe
- FTCE Social Science: The Enlightenment
- FTCE Social Science: The Age of Exploration
- FTCE Social Science: The Industrial Revolution
- FTCE Social Science: The Age of Revolution
- FTCE Social Science: Impact of Imperialism & Nationalism
- FTCE Social Science: World Religions
- FTCE Social Science: The Colonial Period in the Americas
- FTCE Social Science: The American Revolution
- FTCE Social Science: The Making of a New Nation
- FTCE Social Science: Life in Antebellum America
- FTCE Social Science: American Civil War
- FTCE Social Science: Reconstruction
- FTCE Social Science: The Progressive Era
- FTCE Social Science: Impact of Immigration Patterns in the US
- FTCE Social Science: The US in World War I
- FTCE Social Science: The Roaring 20s in America
- FTCE Social Science: The Great Depression
- FTCE Social Science: The US in World War II
- FTCE Social Science: The Cold War
- FTCE Social Science: Civil Rights Movement in America
- FTCE Social Science: A Globalized World
- FTCE Social Science: Florida's History
- FTCE Social Science: Effective Teaching of the Social Sciences
- FTCE Social Science 6-12 Flashcards