The colonization of America in the early 1600s was a slow, painful process. Many of the early settlers did not know how to provide for themselves in the wilderness, but with the help of watchful Indians, the colonists learned how to grow their own food, hunt, and fish. Though they were under British rule, by the late 1600s many of the colonists considered themselves Americans rather than English. Learn about life in the original thirteen colonies as Americans started thinking about independence from England, which in turn led to the Revolutionary War and the creation of a new country -- the United States of America. Easy to read and accessible for reports, this contains black-and-white photos and prints, a colonial America time line, and a bibliography -- Booklist.