Jefferson’s Map of the Northwest Territory

> VISUAL ACTIVITY

The thirteen new states found it hard to ratify the Articles of Confederation without settling their conflicting land claims in the West, a vast area occupied by Indian tribes. The five states objecting to the Articles’ silence over western land policy were Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.

READING THE IMAGE: Which state had the largest claims on western territory?

CONNECTIONS: How did British attitudes toward the colonies contribute to the British defeat in the war?In what context did the first dispute regarding western lands arise? How was it resolved? Does the map suggest a reason why Pennsylvania, a large state, joined the four much smaller states on this issue?