Can you name the 13 original American colonies?

How well do people really remember the 13 original American colonies? In this lively man-on-the-street segment, we head out into the community to test everyday Americans on one of the most basic pieces of early U.S. history.

The challenge seems simple at first: “Can you name all 13 colonies?” But the answers we get are anything but predictable.

Each Friday we’ll be sharing a peek into the past that shows what life was like here, in what’s now Arizona, at the time of the American Revolution.

Stay tuned to learn more about “What Happened in AZ?” each week.

Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Two students stand outside a school building at ASU
aired Dec. 12

13 Colonies

A view of Phoenix with the PBS logo and text reading: Annual Luncheon
Dec. 18

Join us for the Arizona PBS Annual Luncheon

PBS Books Readers Club graphic with several book covers featured in 2025

Join us for PBS Books Readers Club!

TV towers on South Mountain in Phoenix

Show Low to receive new channel number, more powerful signal

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters

STAY in touch
with azpbs.org!

Subscribe to Arizona PBS Newsletters: