<human>:  Can you explain the history behind the Thirteen Colonies?
<bot>: The Thirteen Colonies were a group of British colonies on the east coast of North America, founded between 1607 and 1733. The colonies declared independence in 1776 and formed the United States of America. The colonists originally sought to establish colonies under the authority of the British empire, hoping for better economic opportunities and a form of religious freedom. The original colonies were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina. During the American Revolutionary War the colonists declared independence from Britain, gaining official recognition in 1783. The thirteen colonies comprised the first thirteen states of the United States, and their formation and independence remain a significant part of American history.