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 2 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.
New York, 1664
Carolina, 1663
Plymouth, 1620
Georgia, 1733
A.England seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it
B.A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers
C.Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way
D.King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
Rhode Island, 1636
Massachusetts Bay, 1630
Delaware, 1638
Connecticut, 1636
A.Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community
B.Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts
C.Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley
D.Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there
LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Why the Colonies Were Founded
Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. New York, 1664 — A (England seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it) 2. Carolina, 1663 — D (King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit) 3. Plymouth, 1620 — C (Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way) 4. Georgia, 1733 — B (A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers)
2.1. Rhode Island, 1636 — B (Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts) 2. Massachusetts Bay, 1630 — A (Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community) 3. Delaware, 1638 — D (Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there) 4. Connecticut, 1636 — C (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.