The 13 Original American Colonies were Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Appointed by the crown, the royal governor of a colony represented the monarch. He had more power than the monarch. He could veto laws made by the colonial assembly. The royal governor could dissolve the assembly and council. He could dismiss judges, create and dismantle courts. However, most royal governors did not enforce their authority because they did not want to offend or anger the assembly. The assembly had the power of the purse and therefore the authority to pay or not pay the governor’s salary.

New England Colonies

Colonial Rhode Island History

Colonial Massachusetts History

Connecticut

Middle Colonies

colonial life in the middle colonies includes: New York, New Jersey, Quakers - New Amsterdam, New Netherlands: religious and ethnic diversity: lack of public churches.

Colonial Delaware - Swedish, Dutch then British colony, Governors, Timeline of events

Colonial Pennsylvania - William Penn, King Charles II, diversity of religion, tolerance, Philadelphia

Southern Colonies

Maryland - covers the role of women, indenture servants, religion

Virginia - covers Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and religion

North Carolina Religion in colony - Locke and Cooper proprietors, King Charles II, William III and Queen Anne, Anglican Church Tax, Parishes

North Carolina Colony - lots of interesting facts and trivia

South Carolina

Georgia

Women

Colonial women in Massachusetts - covers witchcraft

Colonial women in Maryland - women's role in Maryland Colony, indentured servants, head of households and more.

Suggested Reading

Colonial America

Colonial America: A History, 1565 - 1776