13 Colonies Facts for Kids

Colonial America is traditionally used to identify that English colonies that existed along the Eastern Seaboard. The story of the 13 colonies is an important one even though Spanish, Dutch, French and even Russian colonies already existed on eth American continent at the time. The 13 colonies included New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. It was these 13 colonies that were the start of the formation of the United States. For this reason, the 13 colonies are incredibly significant.

1. Colonial Expansion

Sixteenth-century England was a time when many landowners were looking to convert farms into pastures. This was due to the fact that you could make more money by selling wool instead of food. However, this rush to make wool led to an eventual food shortage. The economic structure of this time was extremely competitive and European nations were looking to acquire as many colonies as possible. More religious freedom and different business ventures were the benefits that could be gained from the North American colonies that were started.

2. First American-Born Child

Due to the colonization of the new colonies, there were finally American-born children. In fact, the first known American-born child to English parents was Virginia Dare. She was born in Roanoke in 1587.

3. The Different Colonies

The Atlantic Seaboard was divided by King James I in 1606. He gave the south to London Company and the northern part to the Plymouth Company. Some mystery does exist with the 13 colonies. It is believed that in 1587 Sir Walter Raleigh settled Roanoke Island, but this colony had completely disappeared by 1590. It is still not fully known what how or why this colony vanished. The inhabitants have never been recovered. In addition to the tobacco colonies there were also the New England colonies, the Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies.

4. The Thirteen Colonies by 1700

By 1700 there were estimated to be more than 250,000 European and African settlers living in the thirteen English colonies. However, the population quickly grew to about 2.5 million by about 1775.Many of the colonists might have been closely located, but they did not have many commonalities. However, when it was time to finally fight for independence these colonies did join together to fight for their freedoms. The 13 colonies were essentially the beginning of the United States.