Happy Fourth of July

For those living in the states, Happy Fourth of July.

Blog Hop When Spark Fly

I blogged with the When Sparks Fly Blog Hop. Please do me the favor of dropping by and leave a message for the chance to win a prize. 

http://janiceseagraves.org/2013/07/03/when-sparks-fly-blog-hop/

Thursday's thirteen: the original thirteen colonies of the U.S.

For this Thursday's thirteen I thought I would post the original thirteen colonies of the United States of America. After all it's almost my countries birthday, the Fourth of July.

The Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the original thirteen United States of America in 1783. These British colonies in North America rebelled against British rule in 1775, largely due to the taxation that Great Britain was imposing on the colonies. A provisional government was formed which proclaimed their independence, which is now celebrated as having occurred on July 4, 1776, and subsequently became the original thirteen United States of America. The colonies were founded between 1607 (Virginia), and 1733 (Georgia), although Great Britain held several other colonies in North America and the West Indies which did not join the rebellion in 1775.
The Thirteen Colonies gave rise to eighteen present-day states: the original thirteen states (in chronological order:

1. Delaware

2.Pennsylvania

3. New Jersey

4. Georgia

5. Connecticut
6. Massachusetts
7. Maryland

8. South Carolina

9. New Hampshire

10. Virginia

11. New York
12. North Carolina

13. Rhode Island

Bonus: Vermont (which had been disputed between New Hampshire and New York and which was an independent republic from 1777 to 1791), Kentucky (formerly part of Virginia until 1792), Tennessee (formerly part of North Carolina until 1796), Maine (formerly part of Massachusetts until 1820), and West Virginia (also formerly part of Virginia until 1863).

Thursday's Thirteen: Patriotic songs

Since it is so close to the fourth of July, the U.S.'s birthday, that I thought I show my colors and my Thursday's thirteen will be Patriotic songs.

1. America the Beautiful

2. Battle Hymn of the Republic

3. God Bless the USA

4. God Bless America

5. My Country 'Tis of Thee

6. Stars and Stripes Forever

7. Star Spangled Banner

8. Yankee Doodle

9. This Land is Your Land

10. What the Flag Means

11. A New Wind a Blowin' by Langston Hughes

12. America (My country, 'tis of Thee) by Samuel F. Smith
13. The Marines Hymn