The way the Thirteen Colonies were run was different depending on where they were located. Let's break it down by region:

1. New England Colonies (like Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire):

   • These colonies held town meetings where everyone could participate and share their opinions on local issues.
   • They were influenced a lot by Puritan beliefs, which meant their laws often connected with their religious beliefs.

2. Middle Colonies (including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware):

   • In these colonies, there was a mix of local groups making decisions and landowners having some control.
   • Pennsylvania was special because it had a democratic system under a man named William Penn. This meant people got to choose their own representatives in government.

3. Southern Colonies (like Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia):

   • These colonies depended on farming large plantations, which influenced how their governments were run.
   • Virginia had a group called the House of Burgesses starting in 1619. This was important because it allowed people to have a say in their government.

In summary, the way each colony was governed was shaped by where they were, their economies, and their cultures. That’s why there were so many different political systems across the colonies.