Founding of the Original 13 Colonies ("From Jamestown to Independence")

  • Virginia

    Virginia

    Founded at Jamestown by the London Company—first permanent English colony.
  • Massachusetts

    Massachusetts

    Plymouth Colony established by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom.
  • New Hampshire

    New Hampshire

    Land claimed by John Mason (later settlers under John Wheelwright).
  • New York

    New York

    Founded originally by the Dutch; taken by Britain in 1664.
  • Maryland

    Maryland

    Established by Lord Baltimore (George Calvert) as a haven for Catholics.
  • Connecticut

    Connecticut

    Founded by Thomas Hooker; Puritan settlers seeking autonomy.
  • Rhode Island

    Rhode Island

    Founded by Roger Williams for religious freedom and separation of church and state.
  • Delaware

    Delaware

    Settled by Swedes under the New Sweden Company, Dutch then British takeover.
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    North & South Carolina

    Charter granted 1663; split into North and South in 1712. Founded by proprietors for trade and settlement.
  • New Jersey

    New Jersey

    Originally Dutch (part of New Netherland), ceded to English and named Jersey.
  • Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania

    Founded by William Penn as a Quaker haven promoting religious tolerance.
  • Georgia

    Georgia

    Founded by James Oglethorpe as a debtor’s colony and buffer against Spanish Florida.
  • End of the French and Indian War

    End of the French and Indian War

    Britain gains territory but imposes taxes on colonies, igniting colonial unrest.
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    Boston

    Key flashpoints such as the Boston Massacre (1770) and the Boston Tea Party (1773) escalate tensions.
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    American Revolutionary War

    American Revolutionary War unfolds; fighting begins in 1775, culminating in independence with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.