Betsy Ross purportedly sewed the first American flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes representing each of the 13 colonies.

The Thirteen Colonies were the 13 British colonies in North America, separately chartered and governed, that rebelled, signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and formally broke with the Kingdom of Great Britain, leading to the American Revolutionary War and the establishment of the United States of America. Other British North American possessions—the former French colony of Quebec and the colonies of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island—remained loyal to the British Crown and much later were united as Canada. The colonies of East Florida and West Florida also remained loyal during the American Revolution. Download high resolution version (1520x800, 14 KB)The Betsy Ross 13-star United States flag (1776) File links The following pages link to this file: Flag of the United States Thirteen Colonies User:Jacobolus Categories: Historical flag images ... Download high resolution version (1520x800, 14 KB)The Betsy Ross 13-star United States flag (1776) File links The following pages link to this file: Flag of the United States Thirteen Colonies User:Jacobolus Categories: Historical flag images ... Betsy Ross (?) and two children presenting her sewn flag to George Washington and others Betsy Ross (January 1, 1752 - January 30, 1836) is reputed to have sewn the first American flag. ... Flag ratio: 10:19 Stars and stripes redirects here. ... In politics and in history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a geographically-distant state (or city, in ancient times). ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the... A charter is a document bestowing certain rights on a town, city, university, land or institution; sometimes used as a loan of money. ... U.S. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is a document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. ... This article is about the year 1776. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Capital London Head of State King of Great Britain Head of Government Prime Minister Parliament House of Commons, House of Lords This article is about the historical state called the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707-1800). ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France,Netherlands, allies British Empire, allies Commanders George Washington Comte de Rochambeau Nathanael Greene William Howe Henry Clinton Charles Cornwallis Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties {{{casualties1}}} {{{casualties2}}} The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War for Independence, was the military side of the American... In various forms, France had colonial possessions since the beginning of the 17th century until the 1960s. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Official languages French Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 75 24 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 2nd 1,542,056 km² 11. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages English Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman Premier John Hamm (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 11 10 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 12th 55,283 km² 3. ... Motto: Parva Sub Ingenti (The small under the protection of the great) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Charlottetown Largest city Charlottetown Lieutenant-Governor J. Léonce Bernard Premier Pat Binns (PC) Area 5,660 km² (13th) • Land 5,660 km² • Water 0 km² (0%) Population (2004) â... Map of East and West Florida in 1810. ... Map of East and West Florida in the early 1800s. ...

The Thirteen Colonies

Contemporaneous documents almost always listed the colonies in geographical order, roughly from north to south, as follows (the division into three regions is a later construct of historians, though New England was always considered to be a distinct region): First Flag of New England, 1686-c. ...

• New England:
  • 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 and Providence Plantations
  • Connecticut Colony, later Connecticut
• Middle Colonies:
  • Province of New York, later New York and Vermont
  • 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:
  • 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

Reference is sometimes seen to the Chesapeake Colonies, these being the Province of Maryland and the Colony and Dominion of Virginia; so called because they border the Chesapeake Bay. The New Hampshire Colony was the product of several English land grants dating from 1623 to 1680, and for much of its colonial history was subject to the Massachusetts Colony and its leadership in Boston. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 46th 24,239 km² 110 km 305 km 3. ... The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony organized October 7, 1691 in North America by William and Mary the joint monarchs of England and Scotland. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 44th 27,360 km² 305 km 80 km 25. ... Official language(s) None Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 39th 86,542 km² 305 km 515 km 13. ... Providence Plantation was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Baptist minister fleeing from religious persecution in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. ... Official language(s) None Capital Providence Largest city Providence Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 50th 4,005 km² 50 km 65 km 32. ... The Connecticut Colony was an English colony that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 48th 14,371 km² 113 km 177 km 12. ... The Middle Colonies were a part of the original Thirteen Colonies that would later become The United States of America. ... The Province of New York (Dutch: Provincie Nieuw-Nederland or Provincie New York) was an English colony that existed roughly where the State of New York does now. ... Official language(s) English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... Official language(s) None Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 43th 24,923 km² 130 km 260 km 3. ... The original provinces of West and East New Jersey are shown in yellow and green respectively. ... Official language(s) None defined, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 47th 22,608 km² 110 km 240 km 14. ... The Province of Pennsylvania, better known to Americans as Pennsylvania Colony, was a North America colony granted to William Penn in 1681 by King Charles II of England. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 33rd 119,283 km² 255 km 455 km 2. ... Delaware Colony was a British colony in North America. ... This article is about the year 1776. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 49th 6,452 km² 48 km 161 km 21. ... The Southern Colonies were four (sometimes five) of the Thirteen Colonies which eventually founded the United States of America. ... The Province of Maryland was one of the 13 colonies that went on to establish the United States. ... Official language(s) None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 145 km 400 km 21 37°53N to 39°43N 75°4W to 79°33W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165... John Smiths Map of Virginia (1612) The Colony of Virginia was the English colony in North America that existed briefly during the 16th century, and continuously from 1607 until the American Revolution. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 35th 110,862 km² 320 km 690 km 7. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 37th 104,749 km² 225 km 610 km 1. ... State nickname: Mountain State Official languages English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin (D) Senators Robert Byrd (D) Jay Rockefeller (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 41st 62,809 km² 0. ... The Province of North Carolina was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered by eight Lords Proprietors. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 805 km 240 km 9. ... State nickname: Volunteer State Official languages English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Governor Phil Bredesen (D) Senators Bill Frist (R) Lamar Alexander (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 36th 109,247 km² 2. ... The South Carolina Colony was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663. ... State nickname: Palmetto State Official languages English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Governor Mark Sanford (R) Senators Lindsey Graham (R) Jim DeMint (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 40th 82,965 km² 6 Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 26th 4,012,012 51. ... Georgia Colony, as specified in the 1732 grant The Georgia Colony was one of the Southern colonies in British North America. ... Chesapeake is the name of various places in the United States of America: Chesapeake, Ohio Chesapeake, Virginia There are also: Chesapeake Academy, an independent PK-Gr 5 school located in Arnold, Maryland near Annapolis. ... Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. ...

Proprietary, royal, and charter colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were established by one of three possible means.

• Proprietary colonies: Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. The British Crown gave a charter (document) and land to a private owner (proprietor) who would then govern the colony.

• Royal colonies: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The British Crown retained sovereignity over the colony and governed it.

• Charter colonies: Rhode Island and Connecticut. The British Crown granted a charter (document) to a group of settlers, who would then govern the colony.

A proprietary colony is a colony in which the king gave land to one or more people called proprietors. ... A royal colony is one that is under direct control of the king. ... A charter colony is one of the three types of colonies: a charter colony, proprietary colony, and royal colony. ...

Other British colonies in North America and the Caribbean in 1776

Britain held several other colonies in North America and the Caribbean in 1776 which did not join the 13 in their Revolution against the Crown. The Caribbean, (Spanish: Caribe; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben, or more commonly Antillen) or the West Indies, is a group of islands and countries which are in or border the Caribbean Sea which lies on the Caribbean Plate. ...

Future Canadian provinces

• Nova Scotia (including present day New Brunswick)
• Newfoundland
• Prince Edward Island (before 1798, Île Saint-Jean or St. John's Island)
• the Province of Quebec, which included present day Ontario)

In 1775, the British claimed authority over both the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange west of the Mississippi River. The red area is the area of the 13 colonies after the Proclamation of 1763. (Map produced by U.S. Dept. of Interior.)

Motto: Spem reduxit (Hope was restored) Official languages English, French Capital Fredericton Largest city Saint John Lieutenant-Governor Herménégilde Chiasson Premier Bernard Lord (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 10 10 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 11th 72 908 km² 2. ... This is about the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Province of Quebec (COLONIAL PERIOD, 1763-1791) Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris (1763) when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France, which was viewed as a vast, frozen wasteland... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Official languages English, French (in some areas) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 106 24 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 4th 1,076,395... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (620x800, 121 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (620x800, 121 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This page is about the river in the United States; there is also a Canadian Mississippi River (Ontario). ...

Future American states

• East Florida (forming most of today's Florida)
• West Florida (which now forms parts of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida)

Map of East and West Florida in 1810. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 22nd 170,451 km² 260 km 800 km 17. ... Map of East and West Florida in the early 1800s. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last official government census, but probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 31st 134,382 km² 210 km 610 km 16 29°N to 33°N 89°W to... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 30th 52,423 mi²/135,775 km² 190 mi/306 km 330 mi/531 km 3. ...

Future independent countries

• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Jamaica
• Nevis, as part of Saint Kitts and Nevis
• St. Christopher, now Saint Kitts

Nevis is an island in the Caribbean, whose name is derived from an original Spanish name given by Christopher Columbus. ... This article is about the Christian saint known as Christopher. ... Saint Kitts (also/previously known as Saint Christopher) is an island in the Caribbean. ...

Future British overseas territories

• Bermuda
• Cayman Islands

A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ...

Other

• West Indies

Note that Guyana was a Dutch colony as of 1776; British Honduras had settlements, but was "unofficial" until some decades later. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. ... British Honduras was the former name of a British colony on the east coast of Central America, now the independent nation of Belize. ...

See also

• British colonization of the Americas
• Colonial government in America
• History of the United States (1776-1789): Independence and the American Revolution
• Upper Canada
• Lower Canada
• Province of Canada

[[[[[ == [[Media: --71. ... The organization and structure of Colonial governments in America shared many attributes. ... // Era overview In the year AD 1776, war was beginning. ... Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario Upper Canada is an early name for the land at the upstream end of the Saint Lawrence River in early North America – the territory south of Lake Nipissing and north of the St. ... Lower Canada was a British colony in North America, at the downstream end of the Saint Lawrence River in the southern portion of the modern-day province of Quebec. ... Note: for information about Canadas present-day provinces, see Provinces of Canada. ...

External links

• British North American Colonies to 1783 - Military History & Institutions
• The Avalon Project at Yale Law School: Colonial Charters, Grants and Related Documents