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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 24 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 Gadsden Purchase, 1853
  • Land to the Mississippi River, 1783
  • Texas, 1845
  • The Oregon Country, 1846
  • A.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
  • B.Annexed after nine years as an independent republic
  • C.Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution
  • D.Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel
2.Why did many Americans in 1846 oppose the war with Mexico?
  • A.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
  • B.They had never heard of Texas
  • C.They wanted Mexico to take more land
3.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
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 flat route for a southern railroad
  • B.To build a new capital city
  • C.For a port on the Atlantic
6.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
  • A.Russia only
  • B.Britain and France
  • C.Mexico, along with many Native nations

LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 24 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land

Set 24. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — A (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad) 2. Land to the Mississippi River, 1783 — C (Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution) 3. Texas, 1845 — B (Annexed after nine years as an independent republic) 4. The Oregon Country, 1846 — D (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel)
  2. 2.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
  3. 3.No; they were not part of the deal
  4. 4.Gold, and much later oil
  5. 5.For a flat route for a southern railroad
  6. 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.