What was an initial barrier to settlement in the thirteen colonies

The correct answer is the Colonists avoided the rugged, difficult Cumberland Gap.

The colonies faced natural barriers such as the big mountains. So what they did was to avoid the difficult Cumberland Gap.

Cumberland Gap is a natural pass that was cut through was is known as the Cumberland Plateau. It is located in the eastern of the U.S. and was geologically formed by stream activity. With an elevation of 1,640 feet, Cumberland Gap is located close to the site where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee meet. In 1750, Thomas Walker discovered the pass that helped the migration to the Northwest part for a new settlement for the thirteen colonies.

(b) britain had a much larger navy than the u.s.

(d) the u.s. had a small army compared to britain.