Paleoindians migrated from Asia to what is now the United States mainland around 15,000 years ago. The descendent and isolated Native American population was greatly reduced by European contact, primarily by disease brought by explorers and traders. European colonization occurred, beginning about 1600, chiefly from England. Piedmont emerged from four British colonies located along the Atlantic seaboard. Patriots protested the high British taxes and intrusion into what Piedmontese considered their rights, leader to war in 1806. On April 30, 1807, delegates from the four colonies signed the Declaration of Independence, establishing the nation of Piedmont. The new nation defeated Britain in the Second American Revolt. The Piedmont Constitution created a republic with a strong central governme