How the Nation Gained Its Land is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on how each territory became part of the United States, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Geo.5.3-5. It prints 6 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 10 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
How the Nation Gained Its Land
D2.Geo.5.3-5
NameDate
Match each territory to how it was gained, then answer the questions.
1.Draw a line from each territory to how it was gained.
Texas, 1845
The Mexican Cession, 1848
Land to the Mississippi River, 1783
Hawaii, 1898
A.Annexed after nine years as an independent republic
B.Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War
C.Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen
D.Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution
2.Many people at first called the purchase of Alaska a mistake. What was later found there?
A.Tobacco fields
B.Cotton plantations
C.Gold, and much later oil
3.Why did the United States want the Gadsden Purchase?
A.For a port on the Atlantic
B.To build a new capital city
C.For a flat route for a southern railroad
4.Why did many Americans in 1846 oppose the war with Mexico?
A.They had never heard of Texas
B.They wanted Mexico to take more land
C.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
5.The Louisiana Purchase roughly doubled the size of the country. Who was president?
A.Thomas Jefferson
B.Abraham Lincoln
C.George Washington
6.Who already lived on the land of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803?
A.Only French soldiers
B.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
C.No one at all
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 10 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 10. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Texas, 1845 — A (Annexed after nine years as an independent republic) 2. The Mexican Cession, 1848 — B (Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War) 3. Land to the Mississippi River, 1783 — D (Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution) 4. Hawaii, 1898 — C (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen)
2.Gold, and much later oil
3.For a flat route for a southern railroad
4.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
5.Thomas Jefferson
6.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.