Final answer:
The three major pieces of legislation passed under the Articles of Confederation include the Land Ordinance of 1785, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, and various treaties like the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Articles of Confederation, three significant pieces of legislation were passed.
First, the Land Ordinance of 1785, which set up a standardized system whereby settlers could purchase title to farmland in the undeveloped west.
Second, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which established a government for the Northwest Territory and outlined the process for admitting a new state to the Union.
Third, various treaties with other nations and Native American tribes were enacted, such as the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
The passage of laws under the Articles required consensus from a supermajority of nine states, and any amendments needed unanimous approval, making legislation extremely challenging. Despite this, the aforementioned ordinances represented significant achievements in the organization and growth of the new nation.
However, the limitations of the Articles, such as the lack of power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws, highlighted the need for a stronger central government, which eventually led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.