Which of the following is NOT one of the 13 original colonies?

California is the correct answer because it was not one of the 13 original colonies established by the British in North America. The original colonies were primarily located on the eastern seaboard and included areas that are now known as New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, among others.

California was admitted to the Union much later, in 1850, as part of the expansion westward during the 19th century, well after the original thirteen colonies were established. The original colonies, which declared independence from British rule in 1776, included areas settled in the early 1600s to mid-1700s, whereas California's population began to grow significantly with the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. Understanding the timeline of American colonial history and the geographical distinctions of the original colonies is key to grasping this topic.