The 13 Colonies

Long ago, America was called the colonies. Colonies are lands controlled by other countries that are far away. There were thirteen colonies in America.

Many of the people in the thirteen colonies came from England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland—though some came from France, Germany, and other European countries too. 

Generally, people living in the thirteen colonies had traveled to America for a better life. Many thought of themselves as British, not as American.

They liked to buy clothes and books from England. They liked to drink tea. They obeyed King George III, who ruled over England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the colonies in America. 

The colonists were proud of their king. Great Britain had just won a war against France. But to pay for that war, King George had borrowed a lot of money.

Where could he find money to pay back what was borrowed? The answer was from the colonists in America. 

The king decided that when the colonists bought such things as sugar, paint, newspapers, writing paper, glass, or tea, they would be charged a payment, or sales tax, making the cost of these items more expensive. 

The colonists showed their anger by protesting and not buying any of these things. In the end, the tax on everything except tea was dropped. 

Sales tax is money that people pay, in addition to the actual price of something, when they buy it. In this case, the money collected from the sales tax charged by the king and Parliament would go to the British government.

Sales taxes still exist today, even in America. Explain that in most states, when one someone buys something, they pay a little extra money for the sales tax.

The money that is collected goes to the government of the state where they are making the purchase. The state uses the tax money to pay for firefighters, police officers, schools, hospitals, and other things people need.