What is one reason the colonists came to America? escape persecution. Which people were taken to be slaves in America? Africans. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? American Indians. Why did the colonists fight the British? Boarding issues. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson. How many colonies became states initially? 13. Who was the first U.S. President? George Washington. Which was the first colony to become a state? Delaware. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? 1776. What are the founding fathers of our country called? framers. Where was the Constitution written? Constitutional Convention. In which state was the Constitution written? Pennsylvania. When was the Constitution written? 1787. What supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution? Federalist Papers. How many essays were in the Federalist Papers? 85