<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Thirteen Colonies were a group of British colonies on the east coast of North America founded in the 17th and 18th centuries that declared independence in 1776 and formed the United States of America . The Thirteen Colonies had very similar political, constitutional, and legal systems and were dominated by Protestant English - speakers . They were part of Britain's possessions in the New World, which also included colonies in Canada and the Caribbean, as well as East and West Florida . </P> <P> Between 1625 and 1775, the colonial population grew from roughly 2000 to over 2 million, often displacing Native Americans . In the 18th century, the British government operated its colonies under a policy of mercantilism, in which the central government administered its possessions for the economic benefit of the mother country . During the colonial period, slavery was introduced . However, the Thirteen Colonies had a high degree of self - governance and active local elections, and they resisted London's demands for more control . </P>

Who owned america when it was the 13 colonies