The signers of the Declaration of Independence represented thirteen colonies, 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. The document’s formal title referred to “the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.”
The number thirteen can cause confusion because the vote for independence did not initially include every colony in the same way. New York abstained on July 4 because its delegates lacked authorization, while the other colonial delegations supplied the necessary support. New York later joined the unanimous position.
The 13-star pattern on the original United States flag also represented these founding states. Later states joined the Union, but the original group remained central to national founding symbolism.