The Big Picture:

.After the Declaration of Independence was signed, the colonist didn't think of themselves as colonies.
.Each colony was now a state.
colony was like a state.
.Each state had to make a decision about what type of government to have.
.It would have a convention ( formal meeting held for a special purpose ) to make these decisions.
.The 13 states decided to unite( join together ) and become the United States of America.
.Each state wanted to be independent, like it's own country.But, they needed to join together to defend themselves in case they were attacked.