Thirteen British colonies became the original United States after declaring independence in 1776.
The colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast and were commonly grouped as New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. They included Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and ten others that later became the first states of the United States.
The colonies had separate governments and economies, but conflicts with Britain over taxation, trade, and political authority encouraged cooperation. Delegates from the colonies formed the Continental Congress, organized the Continental Army, and eventually declared independence.
The number thirteen is central to early American symbolism. The first national flag commonly associated with the United States had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. The number of original colonies should not be confused with the current number of states, which is 50.