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

The correct answer is Ohio because it was not one of the original thirteen states that declared independence from Great Britain in 1776. Ohio became a state later, in 1803, as part of the northwest territory settled after the American Revolution.

In contrast, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were all original states—each having been part of the early American colonies. These colonies were the foundation of the United States, where they played significant roles in the country's formation and governance during the Revolutionary period and the years that followed. This distinction is important in understanding U.S. history, as the original states were central to the development of the Constitution and the federal government.