They didn't have the military power to defend themselves.
Just did this quiz and got 100%, the answers are:
Enlistments for militia service were often set for only one year at the beginning
Washington had a difficult time getting the soldiers from different States to see themselves as united and part of the same country
The States often failed to send needed supplies
Troops from each state consisted of militias with different levels of training
Answer: a- atmospheric pressure and wind
Explanation: