The 13 Original Colonies
The 13 British colonies were divided into three Geographic areas: New England, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies.
New England Colonies: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
Middle Colonies: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Southern Colonies: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
New Hampshire colony was founded in year 1623 by Jonh Mason. It was part of Massachusetts until it was sold to the king of England in 1679.
Massachusetts was founded by the separatist (Pilgrims) in 1620. Separatist in England decided to find refuge in America after fleeing to Holland. Originally, the colony was known as Plymouth. Johh Carver was the leader of the Pilgrims and the author of the Mayflower Compact. John Winthrop was the governor of this settlement. William Bradford was chosen as governor thirty times.
Rhode Island was founded in 1636 after Roger Williams obtained a permission from England to form the colony. This colony was founded on separation of church and state; and it was the first colony to guarantee freedom of worship to all its citizens.Rhod eIsland was the last colony to ratify the United States Constitution.
Connecticut colony founded by Thomas Hooker and a group of Massachusetts colonists in 1636.
The New York Colony was founded in 1664 by James, the Duke of York. It started as New Netherland in 1609 and was later renamed New York in 1664. New York was the eleventh state to ratify the constitution.
New Jersey Colony was founded in 1664 by Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret who are friends to James, the Duke of York. The Duke of York, split this land in half (East Jersey & West Jersey) for both of these founders. The two lands were later combined to become New Jersey in 1702.
William Penn founded Pennsylvania in 1682. Penn wanted to create a colony that allow freedom of religion in order to protect himself and fellow quakers from persecution. Penn allowed all citizens a representative assembly elected by landowners. He gave people freedom of religion.
Delaware was founded by Peter Minuit in 1638.
Maryland was founded by Lord Baltimore in 1634. He Believed that all people should have religous freedom. In 1649, the Toleration Act was passed that guaranteed equalility of rights for everyone for religion.
The Virginia colony was founded in 1607 (Jamestown). Captain John Smith is credit for starting this colony.
North Carolina was founded in 1653 by Virginians. In 1663, King Charles II issued royal charter to eight eight nobles. Charleston main city was named after Charles II. Internal problems forced a split of the colony into North and South Carolina in 1729.
South Carolina colony was founded in 1663 by eight nobles with a Royal Charter from Charles II. In 1729, South Carolina received its name after a political dispute and became a colony.
Georgia was founded in 1732. James Oglethorpe was given a charter by King George II to create a colony he named Georgia to serve as a place for the poor and debtors in prison. In 1733, a group of settlers joined James Oglethorpe to found Savannah, Georgia.
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