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Why People Formed Communities is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on the reasons people founded early American communities, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.14.3-5. It prints 2 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 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Why People Formed Communities

D2.His.14.3-5

NameDate

Draw a line from each community to why it was founded.

1.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Mission San Diego, 1769
  • St. Augustine, 1565
  • Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s
  • Jamestown, 1607
  • A.Built around cloth mills powered by a river
  • B.Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida
  • C.The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit
  • D.Spanish priests came to convert California's Native people, who were made to work
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Pennsylvania, 1681
  • Santa Fe, 1610
  • Gold Rush towns, 1849
  • Plymouth, 1620
  • A.Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold
  • B.Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way
  • C.William Penn wanted a colony run by fair laws, open to all faiths
  • D.Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico

LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why People Formed Communities

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Mission San Diego, 1769 — D (Spanish priests came to convert California's Native people, who were made to work) 2. St. Augustine, 1565 — B (Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida) 3. Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s — A (Built around cloth mills powered by a river) 4. Jamestown, 1607 — C (The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit)
  2. 2.1. Pennsylvania, 1681 — C (William Penn wanted a colony run by fair laws, open to all faiths) 2. Santa Fe, 1610 — D (Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico) 3. Gold Rush towns, 1849 — A (Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold) 4. Plymouth, 1620 — B (Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way)

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.14.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.