 After the United States was formed upon the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, federal coordination and legislation began to give settlement a more unified approach.The Land Ordinance of 1785 was the first official action by the federal government in deciding how political organization of new territories would be handled.The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a major step, declaring that states could not individually claim new lands, but exploration would be handled by the national U.S. government.