Three-Sided States

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Three-Sided States

THREE-SIDED STATES. "Three-sided states" were those that, as colonies, had sea-to-sea charters or some other claim to western land. The four-sided or nonlanded states were New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. The latter states strongly supported the idea that Congress should have the power to establish the boundaries of the "landed" states; this issue held up ratification of the Articles of Confederation.

SEE ALSO Articles of Confederation.