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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 19 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.
  • Plymouth, 1620
  • Santa Fe, 1610
  • Jamestown, 1607
  • St. Augustine, 1565
  • A.Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico
  • B.Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida
  • C.The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit
  • D.Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • New Amsterdam, 1625
  • St. Louis, 1764
  • Gold Rush towns, 1849
  • Pennsylvania, 1681
  • A.Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold
  • B.Chosen near where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet, for river trade
  • C.William Penn wanted a colony run by fair laws, open to all faiths
  • D.Dutch traders set up a post to buy furs

LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why People Formed Communities

Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Plymouth, 1620 — D (Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way) 2. Santa Fe, 1610 — A (Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico) 3. Jamestown, 1607 — C (The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit) 4. St. Augustine, 1565 — B (Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida)
  2. 2.1. New Amsterdam, 1625 — D (Dutch traders set up a post to buy furs) 2. St. Louis, 1764 — B (Chosen near where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet, for river trade) 3. Gold Rush towns, 1849 — A (Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold) 4. Pennsylvania, 1681 — C (William Penn wanted a colony run by fair laws, open to all faiths)

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