How many British colonies in North America declared independence in 1776? Thirteen colonies declared independence and became the original United States.
The colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Georgia. Their break with Britain followed years of disputes over taxation, trade regulation and Parliament’s authority, including resistance to measures such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. Fighting began in 1775, before independence was formally declared.
The Second Continental Congress approved the Lee Resolution on 2 July 1776, declaring the colonies free and independent states. Two days later, on 4 July, it adopted the Declaration of Independence, which explained the political case for separation. The thirteen were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
A common mix-up is that twelve colonies initially voted for the Declaration on 4 July, while New York abstained pending instructions. New York later joined the unanimous declaration.