For America250, the Declaration of Independence identified thirteen colonies as the new states.
The document’s formal title was “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.” Its conclusion declared that the colonies were free and independent states, ending their claimed political connection to Great Britain.
The thirteen colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Georgia. They were not identical in size, government, economy, or population, but their representatives participated in the Continental Congress. The phrase “Thirteen Colonies” refers to these British colonies that joined the American Revolution and became the original states.
A subtle historical detail is that New York’s delegates initially abstained from the July 4 vote because they lacked authorization from their colony’s convention. New York later received permission to approve the measure, allowing the Declaration to be described as unanimous.