Thirteen Colonies

Quick Facts: Who was Thirteen Colonies?

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Thirteen Colonies

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The original 13 British colonies that formed the foundation of the United States.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Thirteen Colonies were the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America which broke away from the British Crown in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and joined to form the United States of America. The Thirteen Colonies in their traditional groupings were: the New England Colonies (Province of New Hampshire, Province of Massachusetts Bay, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and Connecticut Colony); the Middle Colonies (Province of New York, Province of New Jersey, Province of Pennsylvania, and Delaware Colony); and the Southern Colonies (Province of Maryland, Colony of Virginia, Province of North Carolina, Province of South Carolina, and Province of Georgia). These colonies were part of British America, which also included territory in the Floridas, the Caribbean, and what is today Canada. The Thirteen Colonies were separately administered under the Crown, but had similar political, constitutional, and legal systems, and each was dominated by Protestant English-speakers. The first of the colonies, Virginia, was established at Jamestown in 1607.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the New England Colonies were substantially motivated by their founders' concerns related to the practice of religion. The other colonies were founded for business and economic expansion. The Middle Colonies were established on the former Dutch colony of New Netherland. Between 1625 and 1775, the colonial population grew from 2 thousand to 2.4 million, largely displacing the region's Native Americans. The population included people subject to a system of slavery, which was legal in all of the colonies.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In the 18th century, the British government operated under a policy of mercantilism, in which the central government administered its colonies for Britain's economic benefit. The 13 colonies had a degree of self-governance and active local elections, and they resisted London's demands for more control over them. The French and Indian War (1754–1763) against France and its Indian allies led to growing tensions between Britain and the 13 colonies. During the 1750s, the colonies began collaborating instead of dealing directly with Britain. With the help of colonial printers and newspapers, these inter-colonial activities and concerns were shared and led to calls for protection of the colonists' "Rights as Englishmen", especially the principle of "no taxation without representation".

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1607: 1607 Milestone — The first of the colonies, Virginia, was established at Jamestown in 1607.
2. 1625: 1625 Milestone — Between 1625 and 1775, the colonial population grew from 2 thousand to 2.
3. 1754: 1754 Milestone — The French and Indian War (1754–1763) against France and its Indian allies led to growing tensions between Britain and the 13 colonies.
4. 1775: 1775 Milestone — The Thirteen Colonies were the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America which broke away from the British Crown in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and joined to form the United States of America.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Thirteen Colonies

True or False: “The Thirteen Colonies were fully established and recognized as a unified political entity before the American Revolution began in 1775.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The term 'Thirteen Colonies' became current primarily in the context of the American Revolution; prior to that, they operated as separate proprietary or royal colonies.

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