Thirteen British colonies joined in declaring independence in 1776, forming the founding group honored by America250.
The colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast of North America and were traditionally grouped as New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. They included New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence as a statement on behalf of these colonies. The document described them as free and independent states, although the Revolutionary War continued until the Treaty of Paris recognized American independence in 1783.
The number thirteen can cause confusion because other British possessions existed in North America, including territories in Canada, Florida, and the Caribbean. The phrase “Thirteen Colonies” refers specifically to the mainland colonies that broke with the British Crown and became the original United States states.