The United States of America started with 13 original colonies. Information about the founding states of the American country can provide a gateway into greater studies of American history. For those people who have wondered exactly what are the 13 original colonies in order, the following explanation of the colonies and their history is an excellent resource. They are listed in the chronological order that they became English colonies.
The 13 Original Colonies
Virginia, 1607
In 1605, 105 settlers sponsored by the London Company settled in Virginia in order to form the first of the original 13 colonies. Information about this historic group abounds. They set up camp in a town that they named Jamestown. Although the first year of its creation was marked with hardship, it became to be a wealthy town over time as the cash crop of tobacco took hold.
New Jersey, 1618
Founded by the Dutch as New Netherlands, the colony was eventually handed over to the Duke of York. He then turned over the land that would become New Jersey to Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley. Intent on making real estate profits from the land, they eventually named it after Sir George Carteret’s former governorship, the Isle of Jersey.
Massachusetts, 1620
The colony of Massachusetts was founded just after Virginia. As settlers headed to Virginia, another group headed to Massachusetts to make the first settlement in the area which they named Popham. In 1620, the famed Mayflower set forth and created the first permanent settlement in Massachusetts. The Pilgrims came seeking religious freedom and signed a document called the “Mayflower Compact. This document served as the constitution of the Plymouth colony for many years after.
Captain John Mason sent groups of settlers to create a fishing village in New Hampshire in 1623. This settlement was named after Captain Mason’s home county of Hampshire. During the Revolutionary War, New Hampshire acquired the state motto: “Live free or die.” The famed General John Stark sent this message during the Revolutionary War saying, “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” General Stark later became known by the appellation, “the Hero of Bennington” for his service at the Battle of Bennington.
Pennsylvania, 1623
The legendary founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn, started the colony in order to protect religious freedoms. As a Quaker, he sought to keep him and his fellow Quakers safe from persecution. This was one of the first of the colonies to guarantee freedom of religion to all of its citizens. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania was also where General George Washington spent the winter of 1777-1778 with his army. This winter marked the turning point in the war for independence and troop morale improved greatly with the culmination of the winter.
New York, 1624
New York originally started as a Dutch settlement on Manhattan Island known as New Amsterdam. After surrendering the land to the English, the land switched over to English ownership from the Dutch. James, the Duke of York, was originally given New York as part of this larger land parcel. After giving a portion of it away, the rest of the land ultimately became the colony of New York.
Maryland, 1634
Founded by Lord Baltimore in 1634, Maryland was founded as a colony of freemen. The colony had originally been explored by Lord Baltimore’s father, Lord George Calvert, with the intent of creating a haven for Catholics within the new world. Religious tolerance became an early characteristic of this colony after the Act of Toleration was passed in 1649. The main economic focus of the colony was on the lucrative tobacco industry.
In the search for greater religious freedoms, settlers from Massachusetts moved into Connecticut in 1635. This colony endured a war with the Native Americans soon after its founding. From 1636-1637 the colony fought the Pequot Wars with the Pequot tribe causing the decimation of the Native American tribe. Ironically, the name of Connecticut is actually derived from a Native American word, “quinatucquet.
The colony of Rhode Island was found by a former resident of Massachusetts who was expelled for espousing religious freedom. Roger Williams set up the town of Providence in 1636 with land that he bought from the Native Americans on the island. In 1638 another banished colonist, Anne Hutchison, came from Massachusetts to found the city of Portsmouth. Rhode Island became the first colony to practice the separation of church and state.
Delaware, 1638
Settled by the Swedes, Delaware was then seized by both the Dutch and the English. Delaware finally landed in the hands of William Penn. It would remain under Pennsylvania’s governance until 1703. During this time, Delaware began to import more slaves into the state as indentured servants stopped arriving. By the time of the Civil War, this had also reversed and fewer Delaware families were owning slaves.
Originally a part of the colony of Virginia, North Carolina was settled by the pioneers of other colonies. It was would further divide into North and South Carolina in 1670. South Carolina was one of the wealthiest colonies. While North Carolina was geared more towards farmers and subsistence farming, South Carolina was a fertile land for beef, timber, rice and indigo. Although South Carolina was able to make use of ports at Charleston and Georgetown, North Carolina lacked a safe port for shipments. Frequent attacks by pirates also forced North Carolina to use the ports of Virginia.
Georgia was started as a place for debtors to go to debtors’ prison and as a buffer against the Spanish in Florida. James Oglethorpe was granted a charter to found Georgia by King George the II who named it after himself. The state of Georgia is also the location of the Blue Ridge Mountain range, a part of the Appalachian Mountains.
For those who seek to find out what are the 13 original colonies in order, this can serve as a starting point. These colonies served as the start of the American nation and formed the backbone of the English presence in America. If you have more of an interest in the 13 original colonies, information can be found in the books listed below as well as at various locations on the Internet.
Sources
Harman, Chris. A People’s History of the World. (London, 1999)
McDougal, Littell. The American People: A History to 1877. (Illinois, 1986) Taylor, Alan. American Colonies: The Settlement of North America. (New York City, 2002)
