![Our "private" beach](http://photos.travelblog.net/372112/980569/s/9362679-our-quot-private-quot-beach-0.jpg "Our "private" beach")
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the origina...more history