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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 3 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.
  • Delaware, 1638
  • Rhode Island, 1636
  • Maryland, 1634
  • Massachusetts Bay, 1630
  • A.Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts
  • B.Puritans led by John Winthrop hoped to build a model religious community
  • C.Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there
  • D.Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
  • Georgia, 1733
  • Carolina, 1663
  • Plymouth, 1620
  • Connecticut, 1636
  • A.A buffer against Spanish Florida and a fresh start for poor English settlers
  • B.Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way
  • 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 3 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why the Colonies Were Founded

Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Delaware, 1638 — C (Swedish settlers built Fort Christina, the first lasting European settlement there) 2. Rhode Island, 1636 — A (Roger Williams founded Providence after he was banished from Massachusetts) 3. Maryland, 1634 — D (Lord Baltimore planned it partly as a safe place for English Catholics) 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. Plymouth, 1620 — B (Pilgrims who had left the Church of England wanted to worship in their own way) 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.