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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 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.

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.
  • The Oregon Country, 1846
  • Hawaii, 1898
  • The Louisiana Territory, 1803
  • Florida, 1819
  • A.Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty
  • B.Bought from France for fifteen million dollars
  • C.Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen
  • D.Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel
2.What did the overthrow of Hawaii's queen in 1893 take from Native Hawaiians?
  • A.Their own independent government
  • B.A war debt to France
  • C.A seat in the British Parliament
3.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
4.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
  • A.Britain and France
  • B.Russia only
  • C.Mexico, along with many Native nations
5.France sold Louisiana in 1803. Did the Native nations living there agree to the sale?
  • A.Yes; they were paid by France
  • B.Yes; they signed the treaty in Paris
  • C.No; they were not part of the deal
6.Why did the United States want the Gadsden Purchase?
  • A.To build a new capital city
  • B.For a flat route for a southern railroad
  • C.For a port on the Atlantic

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The Oregon Country, 1846 — D (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel) 2. Hawaii, 1898 — C (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen) 3. The Louisiana Territory, 1803 — B (Bought from France for fifteen million dollars) 4. Florida, 1819 — A (Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty)
  2. 2.Their own independent government
  3. 3.Gold, and much later oil
  4. 4.Mexico, along with many Native nations
  5. 5.No; they were not part of the deal
  6. 6.For a flat route for a southern railroad

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.