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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 21 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.
  • Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s
  • Jamestown, 1607
  • Gold Rush towns, 1849
  • Boonesborough, 1775
  • A.Built around cloth mills powered by a river
  • B.Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold
  • C.A frontier fort where families gathered for safety
  • D.The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • New Amsterdam, 1625
  • Georgia, 1733
  • St. Louis, 1764
  • Santa Fe, 1610
  • A.Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico
  • B.Dutch traders set up a post to buy furs
  • C.Chosen near where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet, for river trade
  • D.Gave poor English families a fresh start and guarded the border with Spanish Florida

LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why People Formed Communities

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s — A (Built around cloth mills powered by a river) 2. Jamestown, 1607 — D (The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit) 3. Gold Rush towns, 1849 — B (Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold) 4. Boonesborough, 1775 — C (A frontier fort where families gathered for safety)
  2. 2.1. New Amsterdam, 1625 — B (Dutch traders set up a post to buy furs) 2. Georgia, 1733 — D (Gave poor English families a fresh start and guarded the border with Spanish Florida) 3. St. Louis, 1764 — C (Chosen near where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet, for river trade) 4. Santa Fe, 1610 — A (Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico)

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