24. The 13 Colonies Were Always British
It’s often assumed that the 13 original colonies were always under British rule, but history tells a more complex story. Before British control, significant regions were settled by the Dutch, Swedish, and Spanish. New York began as New Amsterdam, a Dutch colony, while Delaware and parts of New Jersey were once Swedish outposts. Florida and areas along the Gulf Coast were under Spanish rule. These varied colonial origins shaped the early American landscape long before British dominance.
