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 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
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 Mexican Cession, 1848
The Oregon Country, 1846
Hawaii, 1898
The Gadsden Purchase, 1853
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.Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War
2.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
3.What did the overthrow of Hawaii's queen in 1893 take from Native Hawaiians?
A.Their own independent government
B.A seat in the British Parliament
C.A war debt to France
4.What did many Americans in the 1840s mean by Manifest Destiny?
A.A plan to give land back to Native nations
B.The belief that the nation was meant to spread to the Pacific
C.A law that banned moving west
5.People of what nation lived in California, New Mexico and Arizona before 1848?
A.Britain and France
B.Mexico, along with many Native nations
C.Russia only
6.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
LessonPrint · D2.Geo.5.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — How the Nation Gained Its Land
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. The Mexican Cession, 1848 — D (Taken from Mexico in the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War) 2. The Oregon Country, 1846 — A (Divided with Britain by a treaty along the 49th parallel) 3. Hawaii, 1898 — B (Annexed after American businessmen overthrew its queen) 4. The Gadsden Purchase, 1853 — C (Bought from Mexico to make room for a southern railroad)
2.No; they were not part of the deal
3.Their own independent government
4.The belief that the nation was meant to spread to the Pacific
5.Mexico, along with many Native nations
6.For a flat route for a southern railroad
Questions about How the Nation Gained Its Land
What does the How the Nation Gained Its Land worksheet cover?
It practices how each territory became part of the United States — 6 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on C3 Framework D2.Geo.5.3-5: Explain how a place changes over time, in its land and its culture. The instruction to students is “Match each territory to how it was gained, then answer the questions”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which C3 Framework indicator does How the Nation Gained Its Land practice?
D2.Geo.5.3-5, under Geography for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published indicator reads: “Explain how the cultural and environmental characteristics of places change over time.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
How the Nation Gained Its Land is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.Geo.5.3-5, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does How the Nation Gained Its Land come with an answer key?
Yes. All 6 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of How the Nation Gained Its Land can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is How the Nation Gained Its Land free to print and photocopy?
Yes. How the Nation Gained Its Land, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for D2.Geo.5.3-5
Explain how a place changes over time, in its land and its culture.