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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 17 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.

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 does Polk say Mexico has passed?
  2. 2. Does Polk think the land where the blood was shed belongs to the United States? How can you tell?
  3. 3. According to Polk, whose soil was the blood shed upon?
2.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. Does Lincoln seem sure that the spot was American soil? How can you tell?
  2. 2. Lincoln was a member of Congress. Why might he put a question like this to the whole Congress?
  3. 3. What happened on that spot of soil, according to Lincoln?

LessonPrint · D2.His.10.3-5 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — One War, Two Accounts

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The boundary of the United States. 2. Yes, because he calls it our territory and American soil. 3. Upon American soil.
  2. 2.1. No, because he asks whether it was, or was not, within the territories of Spain. 2. So that Congress would have to look at whether the war really began on United States soil. 3. The blood of our citizens was shed there.

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