ThIrTeEn CoLoNiEs

The Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the original thirteen United States of America in 1783. These British colonies in North America rebelled against British rule in 1775, this was due to the taxation that Great Britain was imposing on the colonies. A provisional government was formed which proclaimed their independence, which is now celebrated as having occurred on July 4, 1776, and subsequently became the original thirteen United States of America. The colonies were founded between 1607 (Virginia), and 1733 (Georgia), although Great Britain held several other colonies in North America and the West Indies.

Not counting the areas west of the Appalachian Mountains (which were largely unsettled by Europeans at the time of the American Revolution), the Thirteen Colonies gave rise to 16 present-day states: the original 13 states, Vermont (which had been disputed between New Hampshire and New York and which was an independent republic from 1777 to 1791), Maine (formerly part of Massachusetts), and West Virginia (formerly part of Virginia.)