The 13 Colonies for Kids

For Kids: What was the New World?

The New World was the name given to the newly discovered land in 1492. It was a huge amount of land, to the west of England, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, that could only be reached by boat.

Other explorers had discovered what would become North, South, and Central America, but Columbus found it in 1492. He thought he had found the back door to China. That was pretty exciting - a much easier trip to reach the glorious goods found in China to bring back to England - so much better than crossing overland to get there.

When he got back to England, and told the king and the leaders in England, they were pretty excited. Most were ship owners. They saw riches about to land in their laps, well actually loaded onto their ships. But Columbus was wrong. He had not found the back door to China. He, like other explorers before him, had found a whole NEW WORLD.

Who immigrated to the New World?

What did the colonists bring with them?

Quick View: Comparison, Pilgrims, Puritans, Quakers

New England Colonies

Middle Colonies

Southern Colonies