Final answer:
It is true that all thirteen states were required to ratify the Articles of Confederation before it became the law of the land, which happened once Maryland ratified it in 1781 after a dispute over western lands was resolved.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that every one of the 13 states had to ratify the Articles of Confederation before it became effective. The process of creating a centralized government was prompted by the need for a unified nation to coordinate the country's defense during the war against Great Britain. The final draft of the Articles was accepted by Congress in November 1777 and they determined that ratification was necessary by all thirteen states before it could become law. Maryland was the last to ratify, contending that western lands be held as public land for all states. Once Virginia ceded its claims, Maryland agreed, and the Articles were fully ratified in 1781.
This consensus requirement for ratification reflected the strong desire for a government that was both able to lead the nation but not so powerful as to threaten the liberties of its people. The system under the Articles made law-making difficult, with a requirement of nine states to pass legislation and a unanimous vote of all thirteen states to enact any amendments. To ratify the Constitution, which replaced the Articles, a different approach was taken where only nine states needed to ratify for it to come into effect.