THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 17871787

New Independence/ New New Independence/ New LandsLands

The United States earned their independence from Britain during the American Revolution. The two countries signed the Treaty of Paris 1783. A provision of the treaty gave the United States British land claims in North America. See map

What to do with this new What to do with this new land?land?

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

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

See the confusion ?

Solution Solution 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.

NATIONAL DOMAIN – Public land

LAND ORDINANCE (Law)LAND ORDINANCE (Law)

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.

LAND ORDINANCELAND ORDINANCE

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

LAND ORDINANCELAND ORDINANCE

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

LAND ORDINANCELAND ORDINANCE

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

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

LAND ORDINANCELAND ORDINANCEB. 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.III.THE NORTHWEST THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787ORDINANCE of 1787 this this document establishes…document establishes…

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

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 17871787

A. Statehood:

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

a. elect it’s own legislature.

b. send non-voting members to Congress.

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 17871787

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 THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 17871787

Five states join the Union:

Indiana (1816)Ohio (1803)

Illinois (1818)

Michigan (1837)Wisconsin (1848)

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 17871787

Rights Guaranteed:1. Trial by jury

2. Public education

3. Freedom of religion

4. Prohibition of slavery