Articles Of Confederation Dbq

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The validity of the Articles of Confederation Tom Masters 11/5/11 DBQ From 1781 to 1789, the Articles of Confederation was set up as a weak federal government, that gave power to the states, but had its weaknesses. Among its many weaknesses was the single branch government, and the inability of Congress to tax the states. The Articles did solve the land boundaries in north west by creating the ordinances. During the 1780's, the United States witnessed several individual states trying to expand their borders. According to a map of western lands ceded by the states, each state claimed new lands on their own. (Document E) States were claiming land on their own and not having regard to the boundaries of other states. The land out in the Ohio Valley was being claimed by big states like Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. Maryland, a small state, thought it was unfair that big states like Virginia could make big claims on states out west. This resulted in Maryland not voting for the Articles of Confederation. The Land Ordinance of 1785 was then established and the lands in the Ohio valley were divided up and sold cheaply. The ordinance brought a new type set up which were townships and it also said that there was a section in the land that should be used for education. To further establish the lands out west The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was established, it had a series of steps to make a state. The movement of people into the Northwest, established the ordinance. This helped the problem of states claiming to much land because new states were coming into existence and joining the nation so there was less land to claim. The Articles established these land ordinances so the Articles did achieve something positive. The single branch government provided by the Articles of Confederation, said that there was only Congress, the legislative branch which had very
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