History of Oceania

Why did the thirteen british colonies become known as states?

The thirteen British colonies became known as states after they achieved independence from Great Britain. The United States Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, declared the colonies to be free and independent states. The colonies then became known as the thirteen original states or original colonies.

Each of the thirteen colonies then adopted its own state constitution and became a self-governing state within the newly independent United States of America. The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, established a loose alliance of the states, but it soon became evident that a stronger central government was needed.

The thirteen original states are:

1. Delaware

2. Pennsylvania

3. New Jersey

4. Georgia

5. Connecticut

6. Massachusetts

7. Maryland

8. South Carolina

9. New Hampshire

10. Virginia

11. New York

12. North Carolina

13. Rhode Island

These states formed the core of the United States and played a vital role in shaping the country's early political, economic, and cultural development.