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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 5 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.
  • Gold Rush towns, 1849
  • Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s
  • Plymouth, 1620
  • St. Augustine, 1565
  • A.Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way
  • B.Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida
  • C.Built around cloth mills powered by a river
  • D.Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • St. Louis, 1764
  • Boonesborough, 1775
  • Jamestown, 1607
  • Pennsylvania, 1681
  • A.The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit
  • B.Chosen near where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet, for river trade
  • C.A frontier fort where families gathered for safety
  • D.William Penn wanted a colony run by fair laws, open to all faiths

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

Answer key — Why People Formed Communities

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Gold Rush towns, 1849 — D (Grew fast when people rushed to California to find gold) 2. Lowell, Massachusetts, 1820s — C (Built around cloth mills powered by a river) 3. Plymouth, 1620 — A (Pilgrims wanted to worship in their own way) 4. St. Augustine, 1565 — B (Spain built a fort to protect its claim to Florida)
  2. 2.1. St. Louis, 1764 — B (Chosen near where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet, for river trade) 2. Boonesborough, 1775 — C (A frontier fort where families gathered for safety) 3. Jamestown, 1607 — A (The Virginia Company sent English settlers hoping to make a profit) 4. Pennsylvania, 1681 — D (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.