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

California was not one of the original 13 states that declared independence from Britain and later formed the United States. The original states, established during the early years of the nation’s founding in 1776, included Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, among others. California became a state much later, in 1850, as part of the westward expansion and following the Gold Rush. Understanding the timeline of statehood and the history of each state plays a crucial role in grasping the early formation of the United States.