The Original 13 Colonies and Their Flags

Mar 12th, 2017

The original 13 colonies were British colonies along the East coast of what is now the United States. Each colony was largely self-governed, and collectively resisted London’s quest for more control and taxation over them. This led to the Revolutionary War in 1775. A year later, in 1776, the 13 colonies declared independence and established a new nation called the United States of America. The U.S. won the war in 1783.

 

The colonies created a Constitution. Each colony had to ratify the document to become a part of the United States. The following list of the 13 colonies are listed in the order that they joined the U.S. became a state.

 

1.      Delaware

 

 

Delaware was the first of the original 13 colonies admitted to the Union on December 7, 1787. It also has the prestige of being the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. Delaware did not adopt an official flag until July 24, 1913. Read about the history of Delaware's state flag on our blog.

 

2.      Pennsylvania

   

 

Pennsylvania was the 2nd of the original 13 colonies to be admitted as a state in the Union on December 12, 1787. The state’s first official flag was authorized by the legislature in 1799. Read about Pennsylvania's state flag history on our blog.

 

3.      New Jersey

 

 

New Jersey was the 3rd of the original American colonies to be admitted to the Union on December 18, 1787. It did not adopt an official state flag until 1896, 109 years after it became a state. Read about the history of New Jersey's state flag on our blog.

 

4.      Georgia

 

 

Georgia became the 4th of the original 13 colonies to become a state in the Union on January 2, 1788. It did not adopt an official state flag until 1879. Read about Georgia's state flag history on our blog.

 

5.      Connecticut

 

 

Connecticut became the 5th of the original 13 colonies admitted to the Union on January 9, 1788. It did not adopt an official state flag until 1897. Read about Connecticut's state flag history on our blog.

 

6.      Massachusetts

 

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the 6th state admitted to the Union on February 6, 1788. The state did not adopt an official state flag until 1908. Read about Massachusetts' state flag history on our blog.

 

7.      Maryland

 

 

Maryland was the 7th state admitted to the Union on April 28, 1788. It adopted an official state flag in 1904. Read about Maryland's state flag history on our blog.

 

8.      South Carolina

 

 

South Carolina became the 8th state admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788. An unofficial flag was createdin 1775 in response to a request for a flag by the state’s troops who were fighting during the Revolutionary War. An official flag was finally adopted in 1861during the Civil War. Read about South Carolina's state flag history on our blog.

 

9.      New Hampshire

 

 

New Hampshire was the 9th state admitted to the Union on June 21, 1788. In 1792, the state legislature adopted a regulation dictating that its state militia regiments carry regimental colors that displayed the state seal. A state flag was not officially adopted until 1909. Read about New Hampshire's state flag history on our blog.

 

10.  Virginia

 

 

Virginia was the 10th state admitted to the Union on June 25, 1788. Virginia adopted an official state flag in 1861 at the start of the civil war when it seceded from the Union. Read about Virginia's state flag history on our blog.

 

11.  New York

 

 

New York became the 11th state admitted to the Union on July 25, 1788. The state flag of New York was adopted in 1778. It featured the New York coat of arms, also adopted in 1778, placed on a dark blue field. The state seal and flag were adapted from a banner that was carried by a New York regiment during the Revolutionary War (1775 to 1783). Read about New York's state flag history on our blog.

 

12.  North Carolina

 

 

North Carolina became the 12th of the original 13 colonies to be admitted into the Union on November 21, 1789. Its first official flag was adopted on May 20, 1861. On that same date, North Carolina passed a resolution to secede from the Union. Read about North Carolina's state flag history on our blog.

 

13.  Rhode Island

 

 

The state of Rhode Island was admitted into the Union on May 29, 1790. Its first nonmilitary flag was adopted in 1897. Read about Rhode Island's state flag history on our blog.

 

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