The 13 Colonies

The 13 Colonies

Unit 4

England sent colonists to North America

• The first colony was Jamestown in Virginia in 1607

• John Smith was the leader of this colony

• They traded with the Powhatan Native Americans

Other people came for Freedom of Religion

• They were not able to worship how they wanted in England

• Pilgrims settled in Plymouth in 1620

• Puritans formed Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630

During the next hundred years more people moved from Europe to North America to live.

The Colonies

Long ago, America was called the colonies. Colonies are lands controlled by other countries that are far away. There were thirteen colonies in America.

Multiple Choice

What is a colony?

• Free land that has no ruler

• Land controlled by another country.

When countries or people are controlled, they do not make decisions for themselves about their laws and/or way of life. 

Multiple Choice

Who controlled the colonies in America?

• Native Americans

• England

• The Colonists

Multiple Choice

How many colonies were there?

• 7

• 13

• 100

Coming from Europe

Many of the people in the thirteen colonies came from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland—though some came from France, Germany, and other European countries too. 

Multiple Choice

Which continent were the colonists coming from?

• South America

• Antarctica

• Europe

Open Ended

Answer in a complete sentence. Who was in control of the colonies in North America?

_______ was in charge of the colonies in North America.

Generally, people living in the thirteen colonies had traveled to America for a better life. Many thought of themselves as British, not as American.

They liked to buy clothes and books from England. They liked to drink tea. They obeyed King George III, who ruled over England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the colonies in America. 

The colonists were proud of their king. Great Britain had just won a war against France. But to pay for that war, King George had borrowed a lot of money.

Where could he find money to pay back what was borrowed? The answer was from the colonists in America. 

The king decided that when the colonists bought such things as sugar, paint, newspapers, writing paper, glass, or tea, they would be charged a payment, or sales tax, making the cost of these items more expensive. 

Multiple Choice

How do you think the colonists felt about being charged money for things they wanted?

• happy to pay

• frustrated to spend more money

Protesting

The colonists showed their anger by protesting and not buying any of these things. In the end, the tax on everything except tea was dropped. 

Tax

Sales tax is money that people pay, in addition to the actual price of something, when they buy it. In this case, the money collected from the sales tax charged by the king and Parliament would go to the British government.

Sales taxes still exist today, even in America. Explain that in most states, when one someone buys something, they pay a little extra money for the sales tax.

The money that is collected goes to the government of the state where they are making the purchase. The state uses the tax money to pay for firefighters, police officers, schools, hospitals, and other things people need. 

Multiple Choice

Do sales taxes still exist?

• yes

• no

Open Ended

Answer in a complete sentence: What did King George III do to make the colonists mad?

King George III made the colonists mad by ____________.