The thirteen colonies were founded and organized according to three models:

• Proprietary colonies - Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. The British Crown granted a document
called a charter and then leased the land to a private owner (called the owner), who then ruled the
colony. The British Crown owned the colony, which it leased but did not govern.
• Royal colonies -New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia. The British crown held the sovereignty of the colony and ruled it.
• Charter colonies - Rhode Island and Connecticut. The British Crown guaranteed a charter document to
a group of pioneers who colonized the place but also governed it.