New Jersey was one of the 13 Original Colonies that declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776, establishing the United States of America ¹. It was originally part of New Netherland and then New York ¹. The New Jersey Colony was classified as one of the Middle Colonies and existed from 1664 until 1776, when it joined the other 12 colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S. state of New Jersey ^{2 3}. New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution ⁴. The original 13 colonies were divided into three regions, and the New Jersey Colony was part of the Middle Colonies ⁵.