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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 19 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.
  • Florida, 1819
  • The Mexican Cession, 1848
  • The Gadsden Purchase, 1853
  • The Oregon Country, 1846
  • A.Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty
  • B.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
  • C.Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel
  • D.Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War
2.What did the overthrow of Hawaii's queen in 1893 take from Native Hawaiians?
  • A.A seat in the British Parliament
  • B.Their own independent government
  • C.A war debt to France
3.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
  • A.Mexico, along with many Native nations
  • B.Russia only
  • C.Britain and France
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 many Americans in 1846 oppose the war with Mexico?
  • A.They wanted Mexico to take more land
  • B.They had never heard of Texas
  • C.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
6.France sold Louisiana in 1803. Did the Native nations living there agree to the sale?
  • A.Yes; they signed the treaty in Paris
  • B.No; they were not part of the deal
  • C.Yes; they were paid by France

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land

Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Florida, 1819 — A (Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty) 2. The Mexican Cession, 1848 — D (Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War) 3. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — B (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad) 4. The Oregon Country, 1846 — C (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel)
  2. 2.Their own independent government
  3. 3.Mexico, along with many Native nations
  4. 4.Gold, and much later oil
  5. 5.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
  6. 6.No; they were not part of the deal

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