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 2 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
Land to the Mississippi River, 1783
The Mexican Cession, 1848
The Gadsden Purchase, 1853
A.Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War
B.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
C.Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution
D.Annexed after nine years as an independent republic
2.Many people at first called the purchase of Alaska a mistake. What was later found there?
A.Tobacco fields
B.Gold, and much later oil
C.Cotton plantations
3.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
4.Why did the United States want the Gadsden Purchase?
A.For a flat route for a southern railroad
B.For a port on the Atlantic
C.To build a new capital city
5.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
6.The Louisiana Purchase roughly doubled the size of the country. Who was president?
A.Thomas Jefferson
B.George Washington
C.Abraham Lincoln
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Texas, 1845 — D (Annexed after nine years as an independent republic) 2. Land to the Mississippi River, 1783 — C (Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution) 3. The Mexican Cession, 1848 — A (Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War) 4. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — B (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad)
2.Gold, and much later oil
3.Their own independent government
4.For a flat route for a southern railroad
5.Mexico, along with many Native nations
6.Thomas Jefferson
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.