Final answer:
The territory north of the Ohio River and west of the Appalachians belonged to the United States under the Articles of Confederation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Articles of Confederation, the territory north of the Ohio River and west of the Appalachians belonged to the United States. After the end of the French and Indian War, Britain claimed this territory as part of the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ceded French Territory to the British.
However, with the Revolutionary War and the subsequent signing of the Articles of Confederation, this area became known as the Northwest Territory, which was land controlled by the United States government. It's also worth noting that Maryland argued for this land to be held as a public area for the benefit of all states before it approved the Articles of Confederation.