The concepts of democracy, republicanism, civic virtue, limiting popular power and religious freedom played important roles in conceiving the new federal govt. These rights, however, did not apply to people of color, women and Native Americans. The Articles of Confederation were the first form of federal gov't. from 1777 - 1789. We discussed its weaknesses and why it needed to be changed (and will be replaced by the U.S. Constitution). The Ordinance of 1784 divided the Western Territory into 10 self-governing districts. The Ordinance of 1785 created a system for surveying, selling and dividing land for human use. It can be seen in the shapes of many mid-western and western states and their counties today.