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The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies in North America founded between 1607 (Virginia), and 1732 (Georgia). Although Great Britain held several other colonies in North America and the West Indies, the colonies referred to as the "thirteen" are those that rebelled against British rule in 1775 (August 22) and proclaimed their independence on July 4, 1776. They subsequently constituted the first 13 states of the United States of America.
The Colonies
Contemporaneous documents usually listed the colonies of British North America in geographical order, from north to south.
- Province of New Hampshire, later New Hampshire
- Province of Massachusetts Bay, later Massachusetts and Maine
- Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, later Rhode Island
- Connecticut Colony, later Connecticut.
- Province of New York, later New York and Vermont[1]
- Province of New Jersey, later New Jersey
- Province of Pennsylvania, later Pennsylvania
- Delaware Colony (before 1776, the Lower Counties on Delaware), later Delaware
Southern Colonies (depending on the subject under discussion, Virginia and Maryland may be separated as Chesapeake Colonies) :
- Province of Maryland, later Maryland
- Colony and Dominion of Virginia, later Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia
- Province of North Carolina, later North Carolina and Tennessee
- Province of South Carolina, later South Carolina
- Province of Georgia, later Georgia
United Kingdom: Island country located off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. The United Kingdom comprises the whole of the island of Great Britain—which contains England, Wales, and Scotland—as well as the northern portion of the island of Ireland. The name Britain is sometimes used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole. The capital is London, which is among the world's leading commercial, financial, and cultural centres.
Political structure of the Kingdom of Great Britain - ruled by a single monarch (hereditary sovereign):
Great Britain : (aka United Kingdom) is the term used for the island containing the contiguous nations (Where a "nation" is defined as "a body of people marked off by common descent, language, culture or historical tradition) of England, Scotland and Wales. Great Britain is used to distinguish Britain from Brittania Minor, or Brittany, in France. The term "Great Britain" was officially used only after King James I (who was also James VI of Scotland) acceded to the throne of England and Wales in 1603, styling himself King of Great Britain, although legislative union between Scotland and England did not take place until 1707.
The Kingdom of Great Britain was ruled by a single monarch, as had the island of Great Britain been since 1603, following the Union of the Crowns. (excepting the Interregnum and during the joint reign of William and Mary). However, from 1707 the monarch of the Kingdom of Great Britain ruled by the power of a single unified Crown of Great Britain..
monarch -
1. a hereditary sovereign, as a king, queen, or emperor.
2. a sole and absolute ruler of a state or nation.
3. a person or thing that holds a dominant position
NOTE:
The 13 colonies gained independence from the British Empire ( Kingdom of Great Britain) in the 18th century. The 13 colonies rebelled against Bristish rule in 1775 and proclaimed their independence on 7/4/1776. They became the first 13 states of the U.S. of America.
Americans revolted against royalty and aristocracy (aristocracy - gov't by a ruling class...a class of people holding exceptional rank and privileges, the elite of privileged upper class). The American revolution of the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.
aristocracy - Government by a ruling class.
1. a class of persons holding exceptional rank and privileges, esp. the hereditary nobility.
2. a government or state ruled by an aristocracy, elite, or privileged upper class.
3. government by those considered to be the best or most able people in the state.
4. a governing body composed of those considered to be the best or most able people in the state.
5. any class or group considered to be superior, as through education, ability, wealth, or social prestige.
