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 15 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.
Hawaii, 1898
The Oregon Country, 1846
Alaska, 1867
The Louisiana Territory, 1803
A.Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen
B.Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel
C.Bought from Russia
D.Bought from France for fifteen million dollars
2.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
3.Who already lived on the land of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803?
A.No one at all
B.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
C.Only French soldiers
4.Many people at first called the purchase of Alaska a mistake. What was later found there?
A.Gold, and much later oil
B.Cotton plantations
C.Tobacco fields
5.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
6.Which Native peoples lived in Alaska when it was bought?
A.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
B.None, because it was empty
C.Only the Cherokee
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 15 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 15. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Hawaii, 1898 — A (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen) 2. The Oregon Country, 1846 — B (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel) 3. Alaska, 1867 — C (Bought from Russia) 4. The Louisiana Territory, 1803 — D (Bought from France for fifteen million dollars)
2.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
3.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
4.Gold, and much later oil
5.For a flat route for a southern railroad
6.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.