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 3 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
Land to the Mississippi River, 1783
The Mexican Cession, 1848
Texas, 1845
A.Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War
B.Annexed after nine years as an independent republic
C.Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution
D.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
2.The Louisiana Purchase roughly doubled the size of the country. Who was president?
A.Thomas Jefferson
B.George Washington
C.Abraham Lincoln
3.Why did the United States want the Gadsden Purchase?
A.To build a new capital city
B.For a port on the Atlantic
C.For a flat route for a southern railroad
4.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
5.Who already lived on the land of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803?
A.No one at all
B.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
C.Only French soldiers
6.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
A.Russia only
B.Mexico, along with many Native nations
C.Britain and France
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 3 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — D (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. The Mexican Cession, 1848 — A (Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War) 4. Texas, 1845 — B (Annexed after nine years as an independent republic)
2.Thomas Jefferson
3.For a flat route for a southern railroad
4.No; they were not part of the deal
5.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
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.