Chapter 1 Original Colonies

The original 13 colonies that constituted the United States were:

  1. Delaware
  2. Pennsylvania
  3. New Jersey
  4. Georgia
  5. Connecticut
  6. Massachusetts Bay
  7. Maryland
  8. South Carolina
  9. New Hampshire
  10. Virginia
  11. New York
  12. North Carolina
  13. Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

These colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, leading to the formation of the United States.

1.1 Mottos

The mottos of the original 13 states, listed in the order of their ratification of the U.S. Constitution:

  1. Delaware: “Liberty and Independence”
  2. Pennsylvania: “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence”
  3. New Jersey: “Liberty and Prosperity”
  4. Georgia: “Wisdom, Justice, Moderation”
  5. Connecticut: “Qui Transtulit Sustinet” (He Who Transplanted Still Sustains)
  6. Massachusetts: “Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem” (By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty)
  7. Maryland: “Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine” (Strong Deeds, Gentle Words)
  8. South Carolina: “Dum Spiro Spero” (While I Breathe, I Hope) and “Animis Opibusque Parati” (Prepared in Mind and Resources)
  9. New Hampshire: “Live Free or Die”
  10. Virginia: “Sic Semper Tyrannis” (Thus Always to Tyrants)
  11. New York: “Excelsior” (Ever Upward)
  12. North Carolina: “Esse Quam Videri” (To Be, Rather Than to Seem)
  13. Rhode Island: “Hope”

These mottos reflect the values and aspirations of each state at the time of their founding and ratification of the Constitution.