Critical Thinking Questions   Map List       If you'd like to print out this page, click the Print button above. Alternatively, you may click the printer icon on your browser's toolbar, or choose File>Print from the menu.     1. Which country held the most territory in North America in 1700? Which country held the least territory in late 1803? 2. What reasons could help explain why the Mississippi River was a frequently a boundary between territories? Why would control of the river be important? 3. Which countries claimed the northwestern portions of the continent in 1803? Which countries currently control this area?