Thirteen British colonies issued the Declaration of Independence commemorated by America250.
The colonies were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Together they declared themselves independent states in 1776.
The term “thirteen colonies” refers to the British colonies along the Atlantic coast that joined the American Revolution and later formed the original United States. Their political cooperation developed through the Continental Congress, which coordinated resistance and eventually approved the Declaration of Independence.
The number 13 is also represented on the United States flag by its 13 stripes and, in earlier versions of the flag, by 13 stars. The 50 stars seen today represent the current states, so the flag’s stripes—not its stars—preserve the original colonies’ number.