Strengths first constitution,Congress had the power to deal with foreign affairs,declare war,make peace and sign treaties,could coin money and etc. The weaknesses are only one vote per state regardless of size,Congress had no power to regulate trade between the states, each state could tax trade between states.
The Northwest Ordinance established policies for the creation of new states and the admitting of those states into the confederation.The law accelerated westward expansion.The law established that all states would be equal, regardless of when they were established.