top of page
Search

The Thirteen Colonies

  • Writer: Shayna
    Shayna
  • Jun 26, 2024
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jun 28, 2024

Ok so we learned about Jamestown in Virginia in 1607 and the Pilgrims landing in Massachusetts in 1620. What happened after that? The entire East Coast of America began filling with settlements and colonies


By 1732, Georgia, became the thirteenth colony established by English rule.


The thirteen colonies in order are as follows:


  • Virginia (1607) - John Smith and the London Company.

  • New York (1626) - Originally founded by the Dutch. Became a British colony in 1664.

  • New Hampshire (1623) - John Mason was the first land holder. Later John Wheelwright.

  • Massachusetts Bay (1630) - Puritans looking for religious freedom. (They landed in 1620 but did not become a colony until ten years later).

  • Maryland (1633) - George and Cecil Calvert as a safe haven for Catholics.

  • Connecticut (1636) - Thomas Hooker after he was told to leave Massachusetts.

  • Rhode Island (1636) - Roger Williams to have a place of religious freedom for all.

  • Delaware (1638) - Peter Minuit and the New Sweden Company. British took over in 1664.

  • North Carolina (1663) - Originally part of the Province of Carolina. Split off from South Carolina in 1712.

  • South Carolina (1663) - Originally part of the Province of Carolina. Split off from North Carolina in 1712.

  • New Jersey (1664) - First settled by the Dutch, the English took over in 1664.

  • Pennsylvania (1681) - William Penn and the Quakers.

  • Georgia (1732) - James Oglethorpe as a settlement for debtors.


A colony is a country or area that is under the political control (in this case by the King of England) usually from afar and there are settlers there from that country. Many of the colonies were started by those who were trying to find religious freedom. Others came because they were looking for land or opportunity they could not get in England (or other places)


Although the 13 Colonies were part of the British Empire, and ruled by the king, they were mainly self-governing. They made their own rules and laws and had their own leaders. Soon we will see what happens when the British impose rules and taxes that do not seem fair to the colonists.


Queen Elizabeth of England ruled during this period. She wanted to establish colonies in the Americas in order to grow the British Empire and to counter the Spanish who already had established various settlements in America. The English hoped to find wealth, they wanted more jobs and land as well as to establish greater trade opportunities with ports up and down the coast of the Americas.


The colonies are often divided up into three regions including the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies.

New England Colonies

  • Connecticut

  • Massachusetts Bay

  • New Hampshire

  • Rhode Island

Middle Colonies

  • Delaware

  • New Jersey

  • New York

  • Pennsylvania

Southern Colonies

  • Georgia

  • Maryland

  • North Carolina

  • South Carolina

  • Virginia

Each colony of course has their own history and unique reasons why it was founded. Many of the colonies were looking for religious freedom and were founded by religious leaders or groups. Other colonies were founded purely in hopes of creating new trade opportunities and profits for investors.


Now take the 13 Colonies Quiz online to see what you've learned!


GEOGRAPHY

You can print this to learn locations:



This is the quiz:

You can also color this page online!



OR these other more simplified versions:






IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES



  • Sketch a fictional New England town! We know that the church was the center of life in New England. Another important aspect of town life was the town common, a grassy area where animals could graze and artisans could sell their wares. Homes were built circling the town common. Wealthier families lived closer to the common and less well-to-do families lived further from the common. So have the kids sketch out a fictional New England town (and they can name it too!) Be sure to add the church to the center, the town common, a meeting house, the various shops and homes.


  • Analyze a map! Use this to help analyze the map below. It is just the trade routes for the colonies. This is a great skill to read maps and to learn about imports (coming in) or exports (going out):




  • Analyze a primary source. This shows a document that was used at the time of the colonies and the kids can analyze it (using the second download) to help ask questions and to see what it was like for other kids.


I copied this information from another site:

The New England Primer was a reading textbook used by millions of American colonists for more than a century. The Primer taught children reading skills as well as Puritan attitudes and doctrine (A is for Adam sinning, B is for the Bible, etc. Read what they wrote for F!)

Note: I recommend using only the book’s right page with students. The left page includes the word “fornication,” which I’m guessing you don’t want to explain to students.


Document from the colonies:




Comments

bottom of page