We Won the Battle for Independence—Now What? (copy)
Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.
We Won the Battle for Independence—Now What?
After years of fighting, the American colonies finally won their independence from Great Britain. The Revolutionary War officially ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The United States was now a free and independent nation. But what came next?
Winning the war was only the first step. Now, the people of the new country had to decide how to govern themselves. For years, the colonies had lived under British rule, with laws and decisions made by the king and Parliament. Without British control, the United States had to figure out how to make laws, choose leaders, and work together as one country.
One major challenge was uniting the 13 states. Each state had its own government and way of doing things. Some states had different currencies, trade rules, and even disagreements over land. The leaders of the new nation had to find a way to bring the states together while still giving them some independence.
Another problem was money. The war had been expensive, and the new government needed a way to pay off debts and support the country. But how would they collect money? Would each state be responsible, or would the national government take charge?
There were also questions about leadership. Who would be in charge? Would there be one leader, or would decisions be made by a group? The new country wanted to avoid the mistakes of the British monarchy, but they also needed to make sure decisions could be made effectively.
With all these challenges, the people of the United States had to make important choices about how their country would work. The decisions they made in the years after independence would shape the future of the nation.
Question 1
What was one major challenge the United States faced after independence?
Deciding what to do with the British king
Figuring out how to govern the new country
Deciding which European country should rule them
Moving the capital to England
Question 2
Why was money a problem for the new nation?
The British took all the gold before leaving
The country had spent a lot of money on the war and needed a way to pay debts
The war had made money illegal in America
The United States was already a wealthy nation
Question 3
What was a concern about leadership in the new United States?
Whether they should ask the British king to come back
How to avoid giving too much power to one person
How to become part of another European country
Whether to elect a queen instead of a king
Question 4
Why was it difficult to unite the 13 states?
Each state had its own government, rules, and interests
The states had already decided to separate into different countries
The British still controlled parts of the land
The states had no leaders or governments
Question 5
What were some of the challenges the United States faced after winning independence? Explain how these challenges might affect a new country.
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