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.

What was one major challenge the United States faced after independence?

Why was money a problem for the new nation?

What was a concern about leadership in the new United States?

Why was it difficult to unite the 13 states?

What were some of the challenges the United States faced after winning independence? Explain how these challenges might affect a new country.