The Northwest Territory
Congress established the method for admitting new states to the Union
in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The ordinancealso established
the Northwest Territory, which included the area that is now Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Study the map and chart
below. Then complete theactivity and answer the questionsthat follow.
wea
STEPS TO STATEHOOD
Congress specifies that three to five
territories will be carved out of the
NorthwestTerritory.
Northwest Territory
For each territory, Congress appoints
:
a governor, a secretary, and three judges. |.
When a territory's population reaches
5,000 free male inhabitants of voting
age, it elects a territorial legislature and
sends a nonvoting delegate to Congress
1-1 1848 Q
ane
Once territory’s population increases
to 60,000 free inhabitants, it becomes
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eligible for statehood and can draft a
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state constitution.
: 183
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and the territory becomes a state.
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Congress approves the state constitution, :
Sources: Record of America; The Oxford
Companion to American History
VIRGINIA
1S OhiO KENTUCKY
1. Numberthe states that make up what was the Northwest Territory in the order in
which the states were admitted to the Union. Start with J for the first state.
2. The Northwest Territory also included part of a present-day state not labeled on
the maporlisted above. Write the name ofthat state on the portion ofit included
in the Northwest Territory.
3. Use a bright color to outline the area of the Northwest Territory.
4. Label the Great Lakes in and around the NorthwestTerritory.
5. Use a dark colorto trace the two majorrivers that were part of the western and
southern boundaries of the Northwest Territory.
The Northwest Ordinance. Oneof the most important achievements of the Con-
federation Congress was passing the Northwest Ordinance in 1787. An ordinance
is a type of law. The Northwest Ordinance was a law dealing with governmentof
the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Ordinance divided this immense area into
several smaller “territories.”
The Northwest Ordinance then established a series of steps for each of these territories to become new states.
» First, a group of leaders would be appointed by Congress to govern eachterritory.
Once a territory reached a population of 5,000 adults, its citizens would elect
their own representatives to govern themselves.
Finally, once the population ofthe territory reached 60,000 people, it could apply
for admission asa state. Once admitted, the new state would be on an equal footing with all the existing states.
; Slavery, It abolished slavery in the
' Northwest Territory, although it did pro-
: Equality of States, It declared that all
territories could come into the Union as
equalstates with the same status and
privileges as the original states.
vide for the return of “fugitive” or escaped
. slaves to their owners in the South,
Voting Rights. [t quaranteed voting
rights to every adult male who owned
50 acres of land,
Pens ceccunieresetnee: 9
DEMOCRATIC IDEALS IN THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE |
Individual Rights. It included guarantees |
of individual rights, such as freedom of
religion, the right to a trial by jury, and
the cight to masonable bail.
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Education. A related law in 1735 established
a system in which a portion of land in each
township would pay for public education.
:
Indian Affairs. [t stated that new lands
should not be taken from the Indians
without their consent, Settlers were
forbidden to unjustly haom Indians living
in surrounding areas.
et aREARNER RE AE SE Aa RAIN REHEARSE A MESSE ARRNa
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We’re Free — Let’s Grow!
ame:
Atlantic
, United States of
&America, 1783
Pi
Find Those States! The United States started out with just thirteen states. Use thelist below
to correctly identify each one on the map. Watch out: Things werea little different back then!
Connecticut
New Hampshire
RhodeIsland
Delaware
New Jersey
South Carolina
Georgia
New York
Virginia
Maryland
North Carolina
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
VICS
Anticipation Activity
__ Whatwasthe requirementfor a territory to be able to apply for admission tothe nation as anew
A. a majority vote of its settlers
B. proof thatit could governitself
C.a minimum of 60,000 free settlers
D. sale of all sections in all townships
ae How muchdid Congressplanto sell sections to settlers?
A. minimum of $640 apiece
B. maximum of $640 apiece
C. minimum of $500 apiece
D. maximum of $500 apiece
aeOne section in every township wasset aside to support
A. church
B. farm
C. public schools
D. private school
__Whatis the population for free settlers before they could ask Congress to be admitted as anew
state?
A. 50,000
B. 60,000
C. 70,000
D. 80,000
ae It provides the vast region to ke divided into separateterritories in the future.
A. Land Ordinance of 1785
B. The Articles of Confederation
C. Northwest Ordinance
D. None