"provide for the common defense" meant the framers were well aware that independence from great britain did not mean they were secure. british canada to the north was still full of angry loyalists. to the west were unknown numbers of hostile native american tribes. farther west was the vast louisiana territory held by france. to the south the spanish held florida. worse, these powers were fighting a series of wars in europe that affected much of north america. the framers knew america needed to protect itself. providing for the common defence meant the new government would make sure all of the states were protected and defended if attacked.