The discovery of the vast lands to the west by Christopher Columbus opened the flood gates of European adventurers and explorers that sought to subdue the North American continent. Those hungry for adventure and a new life came primarily from England, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. In the western and southern bounds of North America the Spanish established their presence, while the middle of the continent was controlled by the French, and the eastern seaboard was colonized mainly by the Dutch and English. One by one, from the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, established in 1607, to the last of the 13 British colonies to form, Georgia, in 1732, Europeans built homes, farms, and churches to form enduring communities. Some came seeking religious freedom, some came for the promise of cheap land and the hope of a new life, while others came in chains from Africa to work the fields. Regardless of their status or reason for coming, free or enslaved, rich or poor, pious or profane, everyone would become the seeds of a fledgling nation that would spring from the 13 British colonies to become the United States of America.The book "The Formation of the 13 Colonies in America" gives a concise look at the formation of the original 13 British colonies in America. To illustrate the story there are numerous pictures of the people, places, and events that are part of this historic undertaking. In addition, the book contains a list of reference books for further reading and a timeline of the formation of the 13 colonies that puts the events of that period in sequence. 30-Minute Book SeriesThis is the 48th book in the 30-Minute Book Series. Books in this series are fast-paced, accurate, and cover the story in as much detail as a short book possibly can. Most people complete each book in less than an hour, which makes the books in the series a perfect companion for your lunch hour, a school project, or a little down time.