The 13 colonies were the British colonies established during the 17th and early 18th centuries in what is now the Eastern United States and Canada. The 13 colonies that declared independence in 1776 and formed the United States were:
H1. New England Colonies
The New England colonies included Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. These colonies were founded by the Puritans and other religious dissenters in the 1620s and 1630s seeking freedom to practice their own religion.
H2. Massachusetts
Founded in 1620 by the Pilgrims, Massachusetts was the site of the earliest successful English colony in New England. The Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony in 1620 and practiced a stricter form of Protestantism known as Puritanism.
H2. Connecticut
Connecticut was settled primarily by Puritans from Massachusetts in the 1630s. It adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut in 1639, which is considered the first written constitution in North America.
H1. Middle Colonies
The Middle colonies included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. These colonies had a diverse population and economies based on farming, trade, and manufacturing.
H2. Pennsylvania
Established in 1681 by William Penn, Pennsylvania was founded as a haven for Quakers and other religious dissenters. Philadelphia became an important trading and shipbuilding center during the colonial period.
H1. Southern Colonies
The Southern colonies had economies based on the plantation system and slave labor. The colonies were Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Maryland.
H2. Virginia
The first permanent English settlement in North America was established in Virginia in 1607 at Jamestown. The colony developed an economy based on tobacco cultivation that was worked by African slaves and indentured servants.
I hope this overview of the 13 colonies provides helpful context and details about each region. Please let me know if you need any additional information.