Thirteen British colonies joined together to form the United States during the independence movement.
The colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast of North America and were grouped traditionally 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.
The colonies had separate governments and distinct local economies, but disputes with Britain over taxation, representation, trade, and political authority drew them into common resistance. The Continental Congress coordinated their wartime effort, and the Declaration of Independence announced their separation in 1776.
The phrase “Thirteen Colonies” refers to the colonies that became the original states of the United States. It does not mean every British colony in North America; places such as Nova Scotia, Quebec, and the Floridas remained outside this group. The number thirteen is central to the national founding story commemorated by America250.