Northwest Territory

• One of the most important accomplishments under the Articles of Confederation

• Planned to sell land to raise revenue• By 1784, a plethora of individuals moved

westward – Caused problems with Native Americans – Federal leaders could not afford to fight wars;

decided to regulate settlement

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

I. CONFEDERATION: a group of loosely joined, but sovereign states.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

A. Problem: Many states made claims to the western lands (Northwest Territory).

Boundaries of the Northwest Territory: Great Lakes (north), Pennsylvania (east), Ohio River (south), Mississippi River (west)

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

B. Solution to the Problem: All states agreed to cede (give) their claims to Congress, so Congress can sell the land for the good of the country (confederation).

NATIONAL DOMAIN – Public land

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

II. LAND ORDINANCE of 1785: Congress’s plan to sell the land of the Northwest Territory.

A. Rectangular Survey System – carefully surveyed the land into squares to be sold.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

1. Township – the largest division of land. It is thirty-six square miles.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

2. Section – 36 sections in a township. It is one square mile or 640 acres.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

3. Acre – the smallest division of land. It sold for $1 per acre.

The average size farm was 40 acres. So, it sold for $40.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

B. Education – the sale from one section of each township goes to start a school for that township.

How much went for education?Answer: $640

III. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787 this document establishes…

the principles and procedures for the orderly expansion of the United States.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

A. Statehood:

1. When the population reaches 5,000 adult males the area can:

a. Establish an elected assembly

b. Governor still had absolute veto power

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

2. When the population reaches 60,000 adult males the area can:

a. can write a state constitution and apply for statehood.

b. If Congress approves the state Constitution that area will become a state.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

Five states:

Indiana (1816)Ohio (1803)

Illinois (1818)

Michigan (1837)

Wisconsin (1848)

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

Rights Guaranteed:1. Trial by jury

2. Public education

3. Freedom of religion

4. Prohibition of slavery