Which of the following states was NOT one of the original 13 colonies?

California was not one of the original 13 colonies. The original colonies were established along the eastern coast of what is now the United States and included states like New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. These colonies were part of British America and played a significant role in the early history of the United States, particularly during the colonial period leading up to the American Revolution. California, on the other hand, was acquired by the United States much later after the Mexican-American War in 1848, well after the original colonies were established. This distinction is crucial in understanding the early formation of the United States and its territorial expansion.