<P> 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 . 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> <P> The French and Indian War (1754--63) against France and its Indian allies led to greater tensions between the British and the Thirteen Colonies . In the 1750s, the colonies began collaborating with one another instead of dealing directly with Britain . These inter-colonial activities cultivated a sense of shared American identity and led to calls for protection of the colonists' "Rights as Englishmen", especially the principle of "no taxation without representation". Grievances with the British government led to the American Revolution, in which the colonies collaborated in forming a Continental Congress which declared independence in 1776 and fought the American Revolutionary War (1775--83) with the aid of France, the Dutch Republic, and Spain . </P> <P> In 1606, King James I of England granted charters to both the Plymouth Company and the London Company for the purpose of establishing permanent settlements in North America . The first permanently settled English colony on the North American continent was the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, established 1607 . The Plymouth Company did found the Popham Colony on the Kennebec River, but it was short - lived . The Plymouth Council for New England sponsored several colonization projects, culminating with Plymouth Colony, which was settled by the English Puritans who are known today as the Pilgrims . The Dutch, Swedish, and French also established successful North American colonies at roughly the same time as the English, but they eventually came under the English crown . The 13 colonies were complete with the establishment of the Province of Georgia in 1732, although the term "Thirteen Colonies" became current only in the context of the American Revolution . </P> <Ul> <Li> Province of New Hampshire, established in the 1620s, chartered as crown colony in 1679 </Li> <Li> Province of Massachusetts Bay, established in the 1620s, a crown colony 1692 </Li> <Li> Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, established 1636, chartered as crown colony in 1663 </Li> <Li> Connecticut Colony, established 1636, chartered as crown colony in 1662 </Li> </Ul>

Which european country was in control of the original 13 colonies