Thirteen British colonies became the United States at independence, forming the historical starting point for America250.
The colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast of North America and were grouped traditionally into New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. They developed separate governments under British rule but shared political disputes with London, especially over taxation, representation, and imperial authority.
The group included New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Georgia was the last of the thirteen to be established, receiving its charter in 1732.
The phrase “Thirteen Colonies” refers to the colonies that joined the revolutionary movement and declared independence in 1776. It does not mean that Britain possessed only thirteen colonies in North America; territories such as Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the Floridas were outside this specific group. The colonies later became the original states of the new United States.