The thirteen North American colonies established by Great Britain eventually formed the nucleus of the United States. This outstanding book describes the history of these colonies, both individually and collectively. Since its first publication in 1992 it has become the established textbook for students of this period in American history. The third edition, revised throughout and substantially expanded, now includes a chapter on the Spanish in Florida, New Mexico, and Texas, together with an account of the French settlements in Louisiana. Accompanied by maps, contemporary illustrations, chronologies, documents, and a fully updated and expanded bibliography, this comprehensive and readable history of the colonial period offers a fascinating analysis of the evolution of a new and distinctive society.