The Thirteen Colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were British lands in North America. They stretched along the East Coast of what is now the United States. Each colony had its own government but was ruled by the king of England. People came from many places to live in the colonies. The Thirteen Colonies later joined together to become the United States.

Three Regions

The colonies were split into three regions. The New England colonies were in the north and had cold winters. The Middle colonies had rich farmland and many different people. The Southern colonies had warm weather and big farms called plantations. Each region had its own way of life.

Breaking Away

Over time, the colonists grew unhappy with British rule. They did not like paying taxes without having a say in the laws. In 1775, they started the American Revolution. In 1776, they declared their independence from Britain. The Thirteen Colonies became the first 13 states of a new country.

Fun Facts

• The 13 stripes on the American flag stand for the 13 colonies.
• Virginia was the oldest of the 13 colonies.
• Georgia was the last colony to be started, in 1732.

Did You Know?

The names of the 13 colonies were Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.