Thirteen Colonies of USA Prior to Declaration of Independence (Year 1776)

Until 1776, there were 13 colonial governments under the British Monarchy in the erstwhile USA.

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

All these13 colonies had their own local governments and elected legislative assemblies. While ultimately under British rule, the Crown and Parliament allowed significant self-governance, with colonists heavily involved in passing local laws, managing economies, and levying taxes.

These colonies were divided into three distinct political systems based on how their governments were structured.

 

Charter Colonies

These colonies were established by a charter granted by the King to a company or group of settlers. They enjoyed the highest degree of self-governance, as they were free to elect their own governors and officials without British interference.

Connecticut

Rhode Island 

Royal Colonies

These colonies were under the direct control of the British Monarch. The King appointed the governor and a council, though the colonists still maintained their own elected lower legislative houses that controlled local spending and resisted strict British mandates. They handled local laws and taxes.

Georgia

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

South Carolina

Virginia 

Proprietary Colonies

The King granted lands (colonies) to individuals and families (proprietors) as personal property. The proprietors appointed the governor, but they still established representative assemblies. The governors were required to work alongside a representative assembly of colonists.

Delaware

Maryland

Pennsylvania

References:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/colonial-government-forms-charter-proprietary-royal-colonies.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_America