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 22 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
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.
Jamestown, 1607
Mission San Diego, 1769
Plymouth, 1620
Gold Rush towns, 1849
A.Spanish priests came to convert California's Native people, who were made to work
B.The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit
C.Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way
D.Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
St. Augustine, 1565
Santa Fe, 1610
Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s
New Amsterdam, 1625
A.Built around cloth mills powered by a river
B.Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico
C.Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida
D.Dutch traders set up a post to buy furs
LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 22 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Why People Formed Communities
Set 22. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Jamestown, 1607 — B (The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit) 2. Mission San Diego, 1769 — A (Spanish priests came to convert California's Native people, who were made to work) 3. Plymouth, 1620 — C (Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way) 4. Gold Rush towns, 1849 — D (Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold)
2.1. St. Augustine, 1565 — C (Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida) 2. Santa Fe, 1610 — B (Became the capital and seat of government of Spain's colony of New Mexico) 3. Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s — A (Built around cloth mills powered by a river) 4. New Amsterdam, 1625 — D (Dutch traders set up a post to buy furs)
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.14.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.