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One War, Two Accounts is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on comparing accounts of why the Mexican-American War began, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.10.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

One War, Two Accounts

D2.His.10.3-5

NameDate

Read both sources, then answer the questions. Compare what each one says.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

Lincoln's Spot Resolutions

From the "Spot Resolutions" that Representative Abraham Lincoln, a member of Congress, put forward on December 22, 1847. The word help line was added for this worksheet. First. Whether the particular spot of soil on which the blood of our citizens was so shed, was, or was not, within the territories of Spain, at least from the treaty of 1819 until the Mexican revolution. Word help: the "Mexican revolution" here means Mexico's fight for independence from Spain, which Mexico won in 1821.

  1. 1. If the spot was Spanish land until the Mexican revolution, whose land would it have become after 1821?
  2. 2. What does Lincoln want to know about the spot of soil?
  3. 3. Does Lincoln seem sure that the spot was American soil? How can you tell?
2.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

President Polk Asks Congress for War

From President James K. Polk's message to Congress, May 11, 1846. The word help line was added for this worksheet. But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. Word help: "reiterated menaces" means repeated threats.

  1. 1. What do the words "reiterated menaces" suggest Mexico had been doing before?
  2. 2. What does Polk say Mexico has passed?
  3. 3. Does Polk think the land where the blood was shed belongs to the United States? How can you tell?

LessonPrint · D2.His.10.3-5 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — One War, Two Accounts

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Mexico's land, because Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821. 2. Whether it was within the territories of Spain from the treaty of 1819 until the Mexican revolution. 3. No, because he asks whether it was, or was not, within the territories of Spain.
  2. 2.1. Threatening the United States again and again. 2. The boundary of the United States. 3. Yes, because he calls it our territory and American soil.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.10.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.