III. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of
1787


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 acre.
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


THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
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 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
Ohio (1803 )
Indiana (1816)
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

REVIEW OF PRE-1803 WESTWARD MIGRATIONS

1783-TREATY OF PARIS GRANTS THE UNITED STATES ALL BRITISH LANDS EAST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND WEST OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
 LAND ORDINANCES OF 1784 DECLARED THAT THE WESTERN LANDS BELONGED
TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
 1782-1802 THE STATES CEDED THEIR WESTERN LAND CLAIMS TO THE US
GOVERNMENT
 LAND ORDINANCES OF 1785 SET UP MEANS FOR SURVEYING WESTERN LANDS
DIVIDING THEM INTO SECTIONS WITH SET ASIDES FOR SCHOOLS AND RELIGION
 NORTHWEST ORDINANCES OF 1787 SET UP THE MEANS BY WHICH THE NEW
WESTERN LANDS WOULD ORGANIZE THEMSELVES AND BE ADMITTED INTO THE
UNION AS STATES
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