Founding American Territories

The founding American territories, often referred to as the Thirteen Colonies and later extended to include territories beyond, stand as defining chapters in the annals of colonial history and governance. Granted by European monarchs chiefly from England, Spain, France, and the Netherlands, these territories were not merely extensions of European dominion but were crucibles of unique social, economic, and governance experiments. These territories lay the groundwork for what would later become the United States, and their administrative, economic, and social policies serve as both a mirror and a lens through which we can understand broader discussions of governance.