Which of the following states was one of the 13 original states?

New Jersey is one of the 13 original states that formed the United States after declaring independence from Great Britain. These original states ratified the Constitution and were key players in the founding of the nation. New Jersey was one of the earlier colonies, established in the 17th century, and it played a significant role in the Revolutionary War and the subsequent formation of the U.S. government.

The other states mentioned—Ohio, Illinois, and California—were not part of the original thirteen. Ohio became a state much later, in 1803, after being part of the Northwest Territory. Illinois was established as a state in 1818, and California was admitted to the Union in 1850 during the Gold Rush era. Thus, New Jersey's historical significance as one of the original states distinguishes it from these later additions to the Union.