The Critical Period - By Matt Stone By MattStone1 1778 The French join the war against the British 1781 Articles of Confederation Ratified 1783 Treaty of Paris signed 1783 Peace Treaty signed in Paris 1784 First Land Ordinance 1785 Second Land Ordinance 1786 Annapolis meeting is held to revise Articles of Confederation 1786 Shay's Rebellion 1787 Constitutional Convention 1787 Delaware becomes first state to ratify the Constitution 1787 Northwest Ordinance 1788 Constitution ratified 1788 Federalist Papers written 1790 Rhode Island ratifies the Constitution