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Why the Colonies Were Founded is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on when, where and why the thirteen colonies were founded, 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 12 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 the Colonies Were Founded

D2.His.14.3-5

NameDate

Draw a line from each colony to the reason it was founded.

1.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Jamestown, Virginia, 1607
  • Maryland, 1634
  • Rhode Island, 1636
  • Massachusetts Bay, 1630
  • A.Founded by the Virginia Company of London to make a profit
  • B.Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community
  • C.Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics
  • D.Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Georgia, 1733
  • Carolina, 1663
  • Connecticut, 1636
  • Delaware, 1638
  • A.A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers
  • B.Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there
  • C.Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley
  • D.King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit

LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 12 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why the Colonies Were Founded

Set 12. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Jamestown, Virginia, 1607 — A (Founded by the Virginia Company of London to make a profit) 2. Maryland, 1634 — C (Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics) 3. Rhode Island, 1636 — D (Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts) 4. Massachusetts Bay, 1630 — B (Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community)
  2. 2.1. Georgia, 1733 — A (A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers) 2. Carolina, 1663 — D (King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit) 3. Connecticut, 1636 — C (Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley) 4. Delaware, 1638 — B (Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there)

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