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Virginia
The history of Virginia began in the 1500's when it was visited by Spanish Explorers. The occupants at that time were tribes of Algonquain, Iroquoian and Siouan peoples in the late 16th century, Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabe the 1st named the area Virginia in honor of the Virgin Queen. -
Massachusettes
Massachusetts is a state with lost of history. Native (Indigenous) people lived in Massachusetts for over 10,000 years before it was colonized by the English in the 17th century. The 17th century brought a mass migration of Puritan immigrants into the state while the centuries after brought new waves of immigrants. -
New Hampshire
New Hampshire was named a royal province in 1679, then became part of the Massachusetts colony from the years 1698 to 1741. From 1741 to 1766, it became a British province again. Throughout this period, France and Great Britain contested ownership of land in the New World culminating with the French and Indian War. -
Maryland
The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from the years 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies against Great Britain and became the U.S. state of Maryland. -
Rhode island
Despite its small area, Rhode Island, known as the ocean state boasts over 400 miles of coastline. Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams in 1636, who had been banished from the Massachusetts colony for his advocacy of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state. -
Conneticut
The word "Connecticut" is a French way of saying the word quinetucket, which means "beside the long, tidal river". Reverend Thomas Hooker and the Rev. Samuel Stone led a group of about 100 who, in 1636, founded the settlement of Hartford. -
Deleware
Delaware declared its independence from Great Britain and they also became independent of Pennsylvania with which it had been connected since 1682. Delaware was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution and this became known as the first state. -
North Carolina
Many people believe that in 1775 North Carolina became the first colony to declare independence from Great Britain. After the American Revolution, North Carolina became the 12th state of the Union. In 1861, North Carolina seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy in the Civil War. -
South Carolina
South Carolina was named in honor of King Charles the I of England, who first formed the English colony, with Carolus being Latin for "Charles". In 1712 the Province of South Carolina was formed. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, South Carolina became a royal colony in 1719. -
New York
The Dutch first settled along the Hudson River in 1624 and established the colony of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. In 1664 the English took control of the area and renamed it New York. One of the original 13 colonies, New York played a crucial political and strategic role during the American Revolution. -
Geogria
Established in 1732 with settlement in Savannah in 1733 Georgia was the last of the thirteen colonies to be founded. Its formation came a half-century after the twelfth British colony Pennsylvania was chartered in 1681 and 70 years after South Carolina's founding in 1663. -
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a haven for his fellow Quakers. Pennsylvania's capital Philadelphia was the site of the first and second Congresses in 1774 and 1775 the latter of which produced the Declaration of Independence sparking the American Revolution. -
New Jersey
In 1790 Trenton officially became the state capital of New Jersey. William Livingston became New Jersey's first state governor. New Jersey grew and prospered during the early 1800s.