Skip to content
LessonPrint

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 5 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next set

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

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 Oregon Country, 1846
  • The Louisiana Territory, 1803
  • Land to the Mississippi River, 1783
  • The Gadsden Purchase, 1853
  • A.Bought from France for fifteen million dollars
  • B.Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution
  • C.Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad
  • D.Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel
2.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
3.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
4.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
5.France sold Louisiana in 1803. Did the Native nations living there agree to the sale?
  • A.Yes; they signed the treaty in Paris
  • B.Yes; they were paid by France
  • C.No; they were not part of the deal
6.Which Native peoples lived in Alaska when it was bought?
  • A.Only the Cherokee
  • B.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
  • C.None, because it was empty

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

Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. The Oregon Country, 1846 — D (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel) 2. The Louisiana Territory, 1803 — A (Bought from France for fifteen million dollars) 3. Land to the Mississippi River, 1783 — B (Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution) 4. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — C (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad)
  2. 2.Gold, and much later oil
  3. 3.Mexico, along with many Native nations
  4. 4.They thought it was unjust or would spread slavery
  5. 5.No; they were not part of the deal
  6. 6.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat

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