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 25 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
Delaware, 1638
Georgia, 1733
Rhode Island, 1636
A.Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there
B.Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts
C.England seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it
D.A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
Massachusetts Bay, 1630
Plymouth, 1620
Connecticut, 1636
Jamestown, Virginia, 1607
A.Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community
B.Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way
C.Founded by the Virginia Company of London to make a profit
D.Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley
LessonPrint · D2.His.14.3-5 · Set 25 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Why the Colonies Were Founded
Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. New York, 1664 — C (England seized the Dutch colony of New Netherland and renamed it) 2. Delaware, 1638 — A (Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there) 3. Georgia, 1733 — D (A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers) 4. Rhode Island, 1636 — B (Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts)
2.1. Massachusetts Bay, 1630 — A (Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community) 2. Plymouth, 1620 — B (Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way) 3. Connecticut, 1636 — D (Thomas Hooker led settlers to the rich farmland of the Connecticut River valley) 4. Jamestown, Virginia, 1607 — C (Founded by the Virginia Company of London to make a profit)
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.14.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.