Definition of Thirteen colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were British colonies in North America founded between 1607 (Virginia), and 1733 (Georgia). Although Great Britain held several other colonies in North America and the West Indies, the colonies referred to as the "thirteen" are those that began a rebellion against British rule in 1775 and proclaimed their independence on July 4, 1776. They subsequently constituted the first thirteen states of the United States of America.