What was a major problem after the Revolution? A. The colonies needed to be dependent B. The colonies needed to be unified C. The colonies needed leaders D. The colonies needed freedom

Answer: B. The colonies needed to be unified

After the American Revolution, a major problem faced by the newly independent colonies was the need for unity. Initially, the thirteen colonies had worked together to win their independence from Great Britain, but after the Revolution, they struggled to form a cohesive, unified nation. Each colony operated almost as its own country, with its own government, laws, and currency. The lack of unity made it difficult to manage collective interests such as defense, trade, and foreign affairs, and it also led to disputes among the states.

In the immediate aftermath of the Revolution, the states were governed by the Articles of Confederation, which was a loose confederation of sovereign states with a weak central government. This government structure was intentionally designed to be weak because the colonists feared a strong central government could become tyrannical like the British monarchy they had fought against. However, soon it became apparent that a stronger national government was needed to address the various issues facing the unified states.

Efforts to strengthen the federal government led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, where the U.S. Constitution was drafted. This new Constitution created a stronger federal system with more powers for the central government, including the ability to regulate trade, manage foreign relations, and provide for the common defense, while still protecting the rights of the states and individuals.