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 14 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.
Alaska, 1867
Texas, 1845
The Gadsden Purchase, 1853
The Louisiana Territory, 1803
A.Annexed after nine years as an independent republic
B.Bought from France for fifteen million dollars
C.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
D.Bought from Russia
2.What did the overthrow of Hawaii's queen in 1893 take from Native Hawaiians?
A.A war debt to France
B.A seat in the British Parliament
C.Their own independent government
3.Why did the United States want the Gadsden Purchase?
A.To build a new capital city
B.For a port on the Atlantic
C.For a flat route for a southern railroad
4.Who already lived on the land of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803?
A.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
B.No one at all
C.Only French soldiers
5.Which Native peoples lived in Alaska when it was bought?
A.Only the Cherokee
B.None, because it was empty
C.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
6.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
A.Russia only
B.Mexico, along with many Native nations
C.Britain and France
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 14 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 14. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Alaska, 1867 — D (Bought from Russia) 2. Texas, 1845 — A (Annexed after nine years as an independent republic) 3. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — C (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad) 4. The Louisiana Territory, 1803 — B (Bought from France for fifteen million dollars)
2.Their own independent government
3.For a flat route for a southern railroad
4.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
5.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
6.Mexico, along with many Native nations
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.