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 8 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.
Hawaii, 1898
Texas, 1845
Land to the Mississippi River, 1783
The Louisiana Territory, 1803
A.Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution
B.Annexed after nine years as an independent republic
C.Bought from France for fifteen million dollars
D.Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen
2.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
A.Mexico, along with many Native nations
B.Russia only
C.Britain and France
3.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
4.Who already lived on the land of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803?
A.No one at all
B.Only French soldiers
C.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
5.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
6.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
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 8 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 8. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Hawaii, 1898 — D (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen) 2. Texas, 1845 — B (Annexed after nine years as an independent republic) 3. Land to the Mississippi River, 1783 — A (Recognized by Britain in the treaty that ended the Revolution) 4. The Louisiana Territory, 1803 — C (Bought from France for fifteen million dollars)
2.Mexico, along with many Native nations
3.Many, including the Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiat
4.Many Native nations, such as the Osage and the Lakota
5.For a flat route for a southern railroad
6.No; they were not part of the deal
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Geo.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.