What country controlled the colonies before independence In the United states

Great Britain controlled them. They even taxed the colonies and introduced the The Stamp Act of 1765. It was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which imposed a direct tax on the British colonies in America and required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. Printed materials included legal documents, magazines, playing cards, newspapers, and many other types of paper used throughout the colonies, and it had to be paid in British currency, not in colonial paper money

Great Britain had government control of the colonies.

Explanation: After the 13 colonies declared independence they formed their own government.