Joany's 13 Colonies Puzzle

Crossword Puzzle of the 13 Colonies

The original thirteen colonies were Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Connecticut: Fifth to become a state 1788; settled by Puritans from Massachusetts; state laws were model for US Constitution; nickname is Constitution State.

Delaware: First state: December 7,1787; Delaware's Blue Hen army (named for their leader's pet fighting Blue Hen rooster) turned away advancing British in initial skirmish with great speed and bravery; the 13-star flag was flown in battle here first.

Georgia: Last colony settled but was fourth to ratify Constitution and become state; named after King George II.

Maryland: Named for Queen Henrietta Maria of England; Known for its valiant army; statehood April 28, 1788; part of state became Washington D C.

Massachusetts: Plymouth Rock home; became a state February 6, 1788; once had a carved wooden codfish on the wall of the State House because codfish were a big state industry.

New Hampshire: named for Hampshire County in England; became state June 21, 1788; was heavily explored by both French and English.

New Jersey: Land was given to the Governor of the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel for this colony; it would be the site of over 100 battles and skirmishes before the Revolution ended.

New York: Named for the Duke of York (brother of King Charles II); statehood July 26, 1788; U.S. Congress met here after Revolution.

North Carolina: Home of Roanoke Island's Lost Colony; first child born in America was John White's granddaughter Virginia on August 18, 1587; statehood November 21, 1789.

Pennsylvania: means Penn's Woods, named for William Penn; nickname Keystone State because it is the center of the arch of thirteen colonies; 2nd state December 12, 1787; settled by various religious groups who greatly enhanced colonial life with inventions such as the Conestoga wagon.

Rhode Island: smallest colony and state; not an island, was maybe named for Isle of Rhodes in Aegean Sea; first to declare independence from England but the last of the thirteen to become a state because of concerns over being fairly represented in spite of size.

South Carolina: once part of "Carolana" with NC; nickname Palmetto State because of the heroic defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan's Island in Charleston harbor against the attack of the British fleet on June 28, 1776; statehood May 23, 1778.

Virginia: home to four of the first five U.S. presidents, and eventually home to four more; site of first permanent settlement in Jamestown 1607.

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