Why was the question of western land claims so important in the ratification of the Articles of Confederation? What advantages were to be gained from western lands? How did the ordinance of 1784 propose to deal with the lands ceded to the national government? What is significant about this with regard to the political development of the West? How did the Ordinance of 1787 (the Northwest Ordinance) differ from the Ordinance of 1784? What factors caused these differences?

Why was the question of western land claims so important in the ratification of the Articles of Confederation? What advantages were to be gained from western lands? How did the ordinance of 1784 propose to deal with the lands ceded to the national government? What is significant about this with regard to the political development of the West? How did the Ordinance of 1787 (the Northwest Ordinance) differ from the Ordinance of 1784? What factors caused these differences?