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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 20 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.
  • Plymouth, 1620
  • Maryland, 1634
  • Carolina, 1663
  • Massachusetts Bay, 1630
  • A.Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community
  • B.Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics
  • C.King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit
  • D.Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Connecticut, 1636
  • New York, 1664
  • Rhode Island, 1636
  • Pennsylvania, 1681
  • A.William Penn's Quaker colony welcomed people of many faiths
  • B.England seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it
  • C.Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts
  • D.Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley

LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why the Colonies Were Founded

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Plymouth, 1620 — D (Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way) 2. Maryland, 1634 — B (Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics) 3. Carolina, 1663 — C (King Charles II granted the land to eight English supporters who hoped to profit) 4. Massachusetts Bay, 1630 — A (Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community)
  2. 2.1. Connecticut, 1636 — D (Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley) 2. New York, 1664 — B (England seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it) 3. Rhode Island, 1636 — C (Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts) 4. Pennsylvania, 1681 — A (William Penn's Quaker colony welcomed people of many faiths)

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