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 17 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 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.
Rhode Island, 1636
Delaware, 1638
Pennsylvania, 1681
Jamestown, Virginia, 1607
A.William Penn's Quaker colony welcomed people of many faiths
B.Founded by the Virginia Company of London to make a profit
C.Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there
D.Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
Maryland, 1634
Georgia, 1733
Carolina, 1663
Connecticut, 1636
A.King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit
B.Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics
C.A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers
D.Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley
LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Why the Colonies Were Founded
Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Rhode Island, 1636 — D (Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts) 2. Delaware, 1638 — C (Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there) 3. Pennsylvania, 1681 — A (William Penn's Quaker colony welcomed people of many faiths) 4. Jamestown, Virginia, 1607 — B (Founded by the Virginia Company of London to make a profit)
2.1. Maryland, 1634 — B (Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics) 2. Georgia, 1733 — C (A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers) 3. Carolina, 1663 — A (King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit) 4. Connecticut, 1636 — D (Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley)
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.14.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.