The Thirteen Colonies played a critical role in American history as the foundation of the United States. Established by European settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries along the eastern seaboard, these colonies were diverse in culture and economy, each with unique characteristics. The colonies' growing discontent with British rule over taxation and governance led to the American Revolution, ultimately resulting in independence. The concepts of democracy and self-governance, born from the experiences of the colonists, laid the groundwork for the U.S. Constitution, shaping modern American political identity and values of freedom and equality.