The Founding of the 13 Colonies | History

Summary

Key Points

• The United States originated from 13 small colonies, with Virginia being the first permanent American colony settled by 104 British colonists at Jamestown. 0:15
• Massachusetts was founded by the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower, and New York was pioneered by the Dutch, initially known as New Amsterdam. 0:24
• Maryland was established in 1634, serving as a home for Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics. 0:28
• Connecticut was formed by Puritans who left Massachusetts to create a new colony at Hartford, alongside Rhode Island, which the Dutch originally named Red Island. 0:37
• Delaware and New Hampshire were subsequently established, with New Hampshire at various times being part of Maryland and Massachusetts. 0:47
• North Carolina was founded by Virginian colonists, followed by South Carolina, which together formed one Carolina colony until 1712. 0:57
• New Jersey was first settled in 1664, existing in two separate parts for nearly 40 years. 1:01
• Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn in 1681 as payment for a debt owed by the British King to Penn's father. 1:08
• Georgia, the last of the thirteen, was established as a penal colony for English debtors and a strategic buffer zone against Spanish-controlled Florida. 1:17
• Spain maintained control of Florida until 1821, 45 years after the original thirteen colonies had already formed the United States of America. 1:22