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 25 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.
The Gadsden Purchase, 1853
The Oregon Country, 1846
Florida, 1819
Hawaii, 1898
A.Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel
B.Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen
C.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
D.Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty
2.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
3.Which Native peoples lived in Alaska when it was bought?
A.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
B.Only the Cherokee
C.None, because it was empty
4.Many people at first called the purchase of Alaska a mistake. What was later found there?
A.Gold, and much later oil
B.Tobacco fields
C.Cotton plantations
5.The Louisiana Purchase roughly doubled the size of the country. Who was president?
A.Abraham Lincoln
B.George Washington
C.Thomas Jefferson
6.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
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 25 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — C (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad) 2. The Oregon Country, 1846 — A (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel) 3. Florida, 1819 — D (Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty) 4. Hawaii, 1898 — B (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen)
2.For a flat route for a southern railroad
3.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
4.Gold, and much later oil
5.Thomas Jefferson
6.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.