Thirteen colonies were represented in the political union that declared independence in 1776 and became the original United States.
The colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire in the north to Georgia in the south. They were separate British colonies with different economies, religions, and local governments, but they cooperated through the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary crisis.
The phrase “the thirteen colonies” refers to the founding colonies, not to every British settlement in North America. Canada, Florida, and other territories were not among the thirteen states that declared independence. After the Revolution, the former colonies became the first states of the United States.
The number also appears on the American flag. The flag’s thirteen stripes represent the original colonies, while its stars represent the states in the Union. In 2026, America250 uses this founding number as part of the historical context surrounding the nation’s 250th anniversary.