How many British colonies united to form the United States in 1776?

Thirteen Colonies united to form the United States in 1776.

The colonies occupied much of Britain’s Atlantic seaboard in North America. From north to south, they were New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The colonies did not all have identical governments, economies, or religious cultures. Their political cooperation grew through resistance to British policies, the Continental Congresses, and the Revolutionary War. In July 1776, Congress declared that the colonies were free and independent states.

The number 13 is also reflected in early national symbols, including the original flag’s 13 stars and stripes. Later states joined the Union, so the Thirteen Colonies should not be confused with the 50 states that make up the United States today.