The 13 Original Colonies

The 13 Original Colonies were British settlements established along the Atlantic coast of North America between the early 1600s and mid-1700s. They were divided into New England, Middle, and Southern colonies, each with distinct economies, religions, and social structures. Over time, tensions with Britain grew due to taxation, trade restrictions, and demands for greater self-government. These colonies eventually united against British rule, forming the core of the movement for independence and becoming the foundation of the United States after the American Revolution.

The Discovery of America

The discovery of America refers to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean in 1492, when he sailed under the Spanish crown while seeking a westward route to Asia. Although Indigenous peoples had lived in the Americas for thousands of years, Columbus’s voyages opened the way for European exploration, colonization, and transatlantic exchange**. His landing initiated major cultural, economic, and demographic transformations—often destructive for Native Americans—ushering in the era of European empire-building in the New World.