Changes

The Articles of Confederation, written in 1777, ratified by the colonies March 1, 1781, established the United States of America. Signed by [[John Dickenson]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Roger Sherman]] and other future [[Framers]] of the [[U.S. Constitution]], the Articles instituted a perpetual union of the thirteen colonies into a confederation that could operate unitarily in times of war.  The new national government consisted only of a [[Legislature]], with one vote per state. A 3/4 vote was required to pass laws, and amendments required unanimous voting.

The Articles of Confederation, written in 1777, ratified by the colonies March 1, 1781, established the [[United States of America]]. Signed by [[John Dickenson]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Roger Sherman]] and other future [[Framers]] of the [[U.S. Constitution]], the Articles instituted a perpetual union of the thirteen colonies into a confederation that could operate unitarily in times of war.  The new national government consisted only of a [[Legislature]], with one vote per state. A 3/4 vote was required to pass laws, and amendments required unanimous voting.

The Articles of Confederation invoked spiritual guidance:  

The Articles of Confederation invoked spiritual guidance:  

This law dictated that all states give up their claims to western lands. The [[Northwest Territory]] was then set up from these lands. Townships were to be surveyed before settlement. This provided the northwest with efficient and orderly towns, unlike the land claims in the trans-Appalachain south, which were often haphazard and led to often violent conflicts.

This law dictated that all states give up their claims to western lands. The [[Northwest Territory]] was then set up from these lands. Townships were to be surveyed before settlement. This provided the northwest with efficient and orderly towns, unlike the land claims in the trans-Appalachain south, which were often haphazard and led to often violent conflicts.

====[[The Northwest Ordinance]]====

====[[The Northwest Ordinance]]====

The Northwest Ordinance set up a method of governing the western territories, and a gradual system of how to admit territories as [[states]]. When a territory had a population of 1-5000, Congress made laws that were enforced by a territorial governor. When population surpassed this mark, residents could elect territorial legislatures. When population reached 60,000, the territory was able to apply for statehood by writing a state constitution that was to be approved by Congress then ratified by the territory's voters. Then Congress would vote whether or not to admit the territory into the Union.

The Northwest Ordinance set up a method of governing the western territories, and a gradual system of how to admit territories as [[States of the Unites States of America|states]]. When a territory had a population of 1-5000, Congress made laws that were enforced by a territorial governor. When population surpassed this mark, residents could elect territorial legislatures. When population reached 60,000, the territory was able to apply for statehood by writing a state constitution that was to be approved by Congress then ratified by the territory's voters. Then Congress would vote whether or not to admit the territory into the Union.

==Weaknesses and Failures==

==Weaknesses and Failures==