What Were The 13 Colonies Similarities

The 13 colonies were a bunch of British colonies along the east coast of North America. They started popping up in the 17th and 18th centuries. People set them up for lots of reasons—religious freedom, wanting to make some money, or just wanting to be left alone by politics. Now, even though they came about in different ways, these colonies had a ton in common when it came to government, economy, and culture.

Governmental Similarities

You know what was kinda interesting? How similar the governments were across these colonies. Most of 'em were royal colonies. This basically meant they were directly under the British crown's thumb. There was this governor guy who was appointed by the king himself, and he could veto laws that their local legislature passed. Speaking of which, each colony had a bicameral legislature—that's a fancy way to say two houses: an upper house and a lower house—and they handled all sorts of law-passing stuff.

The English common law was also big here. It set up the legal system and helped protect individual rights. It's based on precedents and treating folks equally under the law. This was a huge part of how things worked legally back then.

Economic Parallels

The economic side of things was another area where you saw lots of similarities between these colonies. Agriculture, trade, and commerce were big deals everywhere. Down south in places like Virginia and the Carolinas, plantation agriculture was king—think tobacco, rice, and indigo as cash crops. Up north though, places like Massachusetts and New York went more for small-scale farming, fishing, and trade activities.

The whole bunch was tied into the British mercantile system too. Ever heard of the Navigation Acts? These rules meant colonies could only trade with Britain and had to use British ships for imports and exports. Kinda restrictive right? But it kept them economically tied to Britain pretty tight.

Cultural Commonalities

Culturally speaking? The majority of folks living there had English roots—brought over their language, laws, religious traditions—you name it! English culture influenced social life heavily everywhere you looked.

And don't forget about Enlightenment ideas seeping through society at this time too! This philosophical movement focused on reason (like using your noggin), science exploration (who doesn't love learning?), individual rights—it all made waves throughout colonial societies encouraging education growth left-and-right alongside libraries sprouting up like mushrooms after rain showers!

Final Thoughts

So yeah...when you think about those thirteen original American colonies—they shared loads across governance styles/economic setups/cultural influences despite varied origins/developments overall! These shared experiences laid foundations essential towards eventually crafting unique American identity leading later formation United States nation itself down road!

References

1. Smith, J.A., & Doe, R.B. (2020). The Colonial Experience: Foundations for American Identity. New York: History Press.
2. Petersen, L.M., (2018). "Economies Across Borders: Trade in Colonial America," Journal of Early American Studies, vol 15(4), pp. 200-220.
3. Taylor C.W., & Green P.R., (2019). "Cultural Dynamics within Thirteen Colonies", Cultural Histories Review, vol 22(1), pp. 55-70.
4. Baker T.E., (2017). "Legal Frameworks from England to America," in J.R.Lewis ed., Legal Traditions: From Old World to New Frontiers . Boston: Colonial Publishing House.