The thirteen colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were British settlements along the east coast of North America, established between the early 1600s and 1733. They included colonies like Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. These colonies operated with a degree of independence, developing their own governments, economies, and cultures. Over time, tensions grew between the colonies and Britain over issues like taxes and representation, ultimately leading to the American Revolution. The colonies declared independence in 1776, forming the United States. They laid the foundation for the nation’s democratic principles and expanded westward, shaping the country's early history.