You know those thirteen stripes on the American flag? They represent the original thirteen states that kicked off this whole American experiment. But when someone asks "what were the 13 original states?", most folks just rattle off names without really getting into the juicy details. Let's fix that.
I remember visiting Philadelphia years ago and standing in Independence Hall. Our tour guide mentioned Delaware was technically the first state - which surprised me since Virginia always gets the spotlight. That got me digging into the real stories behind these founding states. Turns out, there's way more drama and weird quirks than they teach in school.
The Complete List of the Original 13 States
First things first - let's name them all clearly. These thirteen colonies became states between 1776 and 1788:
| State Name | Order of Statehood | Date Ratified | Special Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 1st state | December 7, 1787 | The FIRST to ratify the Constitution |
| Pennsylvania | 2nd state | December 12, 1787 | Hosted Constitutional Convention |
| New Jersey | 3rd state | December 18, 1787 | "Crossroads of the Revolution" |
| Georgia | 4th state | January 2, 1788 | Youngest colony (founded 1732) |
| Connecticut | 5th state | January 9, 1788 | Fundamental Orders (1639) - first written constitution |
| Massachusetts | 6th state | February 6, 1788 | Plymouth Rock & Boston Tea Party |
| Maryland | 7th state | April 28, 1788 | Only Catholic-founded colony |
| South Carolina | 8th state | May 23, 1788 | Site of first battle at Fort Moultrie |
| New Hampshire | 9th state | June 21, 1788 | Crucial 9th ratification that made Constitution official |
| Virginia | 10th state | June 25, 1788 | Largest population & most delegates |
| New York | 11th state | July 26, 1788 | Strategic Hudson River location |
| North Carolina | 12th state | November 21, 1789 | Waited until Bill of Rights was proposed |
| Rhode Island | 13th state | May 29, 1790 | LAST to join - held out for 2+ years! |
Note: These dates reflect when each state ratified the U.S. Constitution - the formal transition from colony to state
What Actually Made Them "Original States"?
This is where people get confused. These thirteen weren't magically born as states. They were British colonies that pulled off the ultimate breakup through:
- The Declaration of Independence (1776) - Where they declared themselves "free and independent states"
- Revolutionary War victory (1783) - When Britain finally said "fine, you win"
- Constitutional ratification (1787-1790) - The messy 3-year process of agreeing to the new rules
Rhode Island's ratification story cracks me up. They refused to show up to the Constitutional Convention, then rejected the Constitution four times before finally joining. Talk about commitment issues!
Why These Thirteen Specifically?
Geography played a huge role. Look at a map - these formed a continuous coastal strip from New Hampshire to Georgia. Britain controlled Canada to the north and Florida to the south at that time. The Appalachian Mountains created a natural western boundary. Beyond that? Wilderness, French territory, and Native American nations.
Personal observation: Visiting the Appalachian Trail really drives home how these mountains formed both a physical and psychological barrier. Colonists saw them as the "edge of civilization" back then.
Deep Dive on Each Original State
Listing them is one thing, but what made each unique? After digging through colonial records at the Massachusetts Historical Society last year, I found some fascinating details most summaries miss:
New England Group
New Hampshire - Small but mighty. Their ratification vote made the Constitution official. Fun trivia: They supplied over 1/3 of their adult male population to the Continental Army.
Massachusetts - The troublemaker. Boston Tea Party, Lexington and Concord. Their radical politics actually scared some other colonies.
Rhode Island - The rebel. Founded by Roger Williams after being kicked out of Massachusetts. Known for religious freedom... and smuggling. Never ratified the Articles of Confederation!
Connecticut - The overachiever. Their "Fundamental Orders" document (1639) is considered America's first written constitution. Supplied critical troops and firearms.
Middle Colonies
New York - Strategic powerhouse. Controlling the Hudson River meant controlling north-south movement. More battles fought here than anywhere else.
New Jersey - The battleground. George Washington fought nearly one-third of all Revolutionary War battles on New Jersey soil.
Pennsylvania - The meeting spot. Hosted both Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention. Franklin's influence was everywhere.
Delaware - The first to leap. Smallest state physically, but first to ratify. Their delegates rode through a snowstorm to cast the deciding vote.
Southern Colonies
Maryland - The Catholic refuge. Founded as a haven for persecuted English Catholics. Gave us the Mason-Dixon Line.
Virginia - The heavyweight. Provided Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Patrick Henry. Supplied more troops and resources than any other.
North Carolina - The hesitant signer. Refused to ratify until the Bill of Rights was promised. Had a thriving pirate economy pre-Revolution.
South Carolina - The rice king. Richest colony per capita thanks to rice plantations. Saw early combat at Fort Moultrie.
Georgia - The baby colony. Last founded (1732) as a debtor's refuge. Savannah's planned layout remains gorgeous today.
Common Questions People Ask About the 13 Original States
Why do some lists show different orders?
Great catch! There are three different ways to order them:
- Alphabetically - The way they're often memorized
- By founding date - Virginia (1607) first, Georgia (1732) last
- By ratification order - As shown in our table (the technically correct version)
This confusion trips up even history teachers sometimes.
Did they all sign the Declaration at the same time?
Nope - that's a common misconception. The Declaration was approved July 4, 1776, but signing happened over months. Some delegates didn't sign until August! New York's delegation waited until July 15th for approval from their state assembly. Politics moved slower back then.
What about Vermont? I thought it was early too
Vermont declared itself independent in 1777, but here's the kicker - New York and New Hampshire both claimed it! This messy land dispute kept Vermont from joining until 1791 (becoming the 14th state). Good example of how messy state formation really was.
Why do we care today about the original thirteen states?
Beyond the flag stripes, their legacy shapes modern America:
- Senate representation gives small states like Delaware disproportionate power
- State versus federal rights debates started with these thirteen
- Many constitutional compromises (like the 3/5 clause) came from their differing economies
You can still see these early tensions in today's political fights.
The Messy Transition from Colonies to States
Textbooks make it seem like flipping a switch: colonies one day, states the next. Reality was way messier:
| Stage | Timeline | Key Challenge | How They Solved It (Mostly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Period | 1607-1775 | Differing charters and governance | Local assemblies balanced royal governors |
| Revolutionary Governments | 1774-1776 | Creating temporary governing bodies | Provincial Congresses replaced colonial assemblies |
| Independent States Period | 1776-1781 | Operating without central government | States acted like mini-countries (chaotic) |
| Articles of Confederation | 1781-1789 | Weak federal government | States ignored federal requests regularly |
| Constitutional Era | 1787-1790 | Getting all 13 to agree | Compromises on slavery, representation, tariffs |
The Real Ratification Drama
The Constitution almost didn't happen. Virginia and New York nearly sank the whole deal. Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry screamed about states' rights. What changed? The promise of a Bill of Rights. Smart move by Madison and Hamilton.
Rhode Island's stubbornness deserves extra attention. They:
- Refused to send delegates to Philadelphia in 1787
- Rejected the Constitution by popular referendum in March 1788
- Ignored congressional pressure for over two years
- Finally ratified only after Congress threatened to treat them as foreigners!
Can you imagine if Rhode Island had held out? We might have 12 stripes on the flag.
Surprising Ways the Original States Still Matter Today
For history nerds like me, it's fascinating to trace modern issues back to those thirteen states:
Why small states have big power: Delaware has 1/68th of California's population but equal Senate votes. This came directly from the small state/big state compromises of 1787.
Taxation debates: Remember "no taxation without representation"? That colonial argument echoes in every D.C. statehood discussion today.
Regional divisions: North vs. South tensions began with Massachusetts merchants and Virginia planters. Their economic differences shaped early political parties.
State identity: Rhode Islanders still identify strongly with their colonial roots. Visit Providence and you'll see the Gaspee Day parade celebrating their 1772 rebellion against British customs enforcement.
The Final Tally: Why These Thirteen?
After years studying this period, I've concluded three key factors determined which colonies became the original thirteen states:
- Continuous settlement - They formed a connected strip along the Atlantic
- Functional governments - Each had established colonial assemblies
- Shared revolutionary commitment - Unlike loyalist-heavy colonies like Nova Scotia
Could others have joined? Possibly. But geography, politics, and timing created this specific group. Their messy journey from colonies to states explains so much about America's DNA.
Next time someone asks "what were the 13 original states?", you can tell them it's more than a list - it's the origin story of American identity.
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