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 6 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.
Alaska, 1867
The Mexican Cession, 1848
Hawaii, 1898
Florida, 1819
A.Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen
B.Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty
C.Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War
D.Bought from Russia
2.Who already lived on the land of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803?
A.Only French soldiers
B.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
C.No one at all
3.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
4.Which Native peoples lived in Alaska when it was bought?
A.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
B.None, because it was empty
C.Only the Cherokee
5.Why did the United States want the Gadsden Purchase?
A.To build a new capital city
B.For a flat route for a southern railroad
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 6 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 6. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Alaska, 1867 — D (Bought from Russia) 2. The Mexican Cession, 1848 — C (Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War) 3. Hawaii, 1898 — A (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen) 4. Florida, 1819 — B (Given up by Spain in the Adams-Onis Treaty)
2.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
3.Gold, and much later oil
4.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
5.For a flat route for a southern railroad
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.