The Northwest Ordinance
Monroe School District
Grade Level: Middle/Secondary.
New Jersey Social Studies Content Standards: 6.2 A-D, 6.4 E, 6.6 B & D.
Lesson Summary:
The lesson uses technology in the form of a Treasure Hunt as an activity for students to
research pre-selected Internet sites to gain an understanding of the Northwest Ordinance. Through
web-based guided research, students will develop an understanding of why the Confederation
Congress found land ordinances to be necessary and what significance the Northwest Ordinance had
on the period and into the nation’s future.
Suggested Time Frame: One to Two 40-minute periods.
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
 Explain why and how the Confederation Congress provided for settlement of the Northwest
Territory.
 Compare the rights provided to settlers of the Northwest Territory to those provided by the Bill
of Rights and the Constitution.
 Understand how the Ordinance dealt with the issues of slavery and Native American relations.
Confederation Era 1781-1787
Historical Contrasts
United States of America Essential Historical
Questions
Confederation of States
1. What is the structure
of the government?
White, Male landowners


Declaration of
Independence
Articles of
Confederation (in
revision)
2. Who, or what group/s
are the major players?
3. What documents,
values, attitudes or
beliefs define or supports
these major players?
British Empire
King and Parliament
Aristocracy & gentry


Glorious Revolution
Colonialism
(colonists as
subjects to the
crown whose
interests are
subordinate to those of
the parent country,
virtual representation)
Historical Background:
In 1776 the Continental Congress appointed a committee to form a national government.
Completed in 1777, the Articles of Confederation could not become a ruling document of the new
nation until all 13 American states ratified the document. The original charters of some states gave
them claims to territory west of the Appalachian Mountains. Maryland, which had no western land
claims, refused to ratify the Articles of Confederation until Virginia ceded its western land claims.
Virginia agreed to cede its land claims and eventually all other states gave up theirs as well. The
ceding of western lands by the states was accompanied by a series of laws passed by the Articles
Congress to organize the area and prepare territories for statehood. These measures included the
Ordinance of 1784, the Ordinance of 1785 and the Great Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
The Ordinances provided for a survey of the land, and a means by which new states would be
created. It made clear that the new states would be equal to the old and that settlers would be equal
citizens of the United States. In addition, further expansion of slavery in the Northwest Territory was
banned. The Northwest Ordinance would with minor adjustments remain the policy for the admission
of all future states.
Key Terms:

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Ordinance
Articles of Confederation
Ordinance of 1784
Land survey
Bill of Rights
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Territory
Gradual emancipation
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Townships
Cede
Do Now: Students are asked to consider the following question:
 Do you think national policy influences society and culture at the local level? If so, provide an
example. If not, explain.
Critical Thinking Questions:
I.
II.
Why was the Northwest Ordinance considered one of the most important pieces of
legislation during the Confederation period?
What was its impact at the time and in the future of the nation?
Anticipatory Set:

Coming into the lesson have students use their textbook to address the Key Terms listed
above.
Procedures:
I.
Students are asked to consider the Do Now question. Do Now responses are discussed.
II.
Class completes and discusses the “Historical Contrasts” chart together as a review of the
Confederation Era.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Students are introduced to the “Treasure Hunt for The Northwest Ordinance” located on the
Internet at: http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/huntnorthwest.html
 If computer access is unavailable a copy of what is found on the website is found
at the end of the lesson.
The Treasure Hunt “Introduction” is reviewed together, providing instructions for completing
the Treasure Hunt: “Surf's up! Grab your brain and head for the further reaches of
cyberspace. Using the Web allows you to discover tons more than our text and more than
you may have ever known possible! Below is a list of questions about the Northwest
Ordinance. Surf the Internet links on this page to find answers to the questions. By viewing
each of the links, you can answer a group of questions. The questions and links are in
order. Don't forget to go after the monster learning wave, the Big Question. Have fun and
avoid a mental head plant.”
The “Big Question” is reviewed with students and students are instructed to consider the
Big Question as they complete research for the Treasure Hunt so they are able to prepare
a response for the question to complete their assignment: “Why was the Northwest
Ordinance considered one of the most important pieces of legislation during the
Confederation period? Explain its impact at that time and in the future.”
Students work independently or with a partner to complete the Treasure Hunt “Questions”
by using the “Internet Resources” provided (per attached Hunt).
As a culmination to the activity, students respond to the “Big Question”, tying together the
main concepts of the Treasure Hunt and their reading/research.
Closure: Student volunteers explain the long range consequences of the Northwest
Ordinance. Students asked to consider the Do Now topic once again (whether they think
national policy influences society and culture at the local levels). Connections are made
between the Northwest Ordinance and the Do Now responses.
Extension Activities:

Have students create a timeline that demonstrates how the Northwest Ordinance came about
its impact.
Evaluation:

Student Treasure Hunt will be evaluated in comparison to the objectives. Student
homework will also be used to evaluate the lesson.
Suggested Homework:

Students complete Comparative Studies: The Ordinance of 1787 and the Constitution
(Document A-1)
Resources:

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Computers with Internet access per student of student pair
Comparative Studies handout.
(Document A-1)
Hunt for The Northwest Ordinance
an Internet Treasure Hunt on The Northwest Ordinance
created by T.O.O.L.- MTHS
Introduction | The Questions | Internet Resources
Introduction
Surf's up! Grab your brain and head for the further reaches of cyberspace. Using the Web allows you to discover tons
more than our text and more than you may have ever known possible! Below is a list of questions about the Northwest
Ordinance. Surf the Internet links on this page to find answers to the questions. By viewing each of the links, you can
answer a group of questions. The questions and links are in order. Don't forget to go after the monster learning wave, the
Big Question. Have fun and avoid a mental head plant.
Questions
1. - Which states supported the Articles of Confederation? Why?
- Which states did not support the Articles of Confederation? Why?
2. - What were the accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation?
- What methods were set up to organize the Northwest Territories?
- Why is this legislation so significant?
3. - What is the public land survey system?
- What were its advantages and what are some of the difficulties with it?
4. - What concepts and guarantees of the Northwest Ordinance were incorporated into the U.S. Constitution and the
Bill of Rights?
- How were the new states to be created by the Northwest Ordinance?
5. - What rights were guaranteed to inhabitants of territories under the Northwest Ordinance?
- What did the Northwest Ordinance specify about the treatment of Native Americans?
6. - How did the Northwest Ordinance affect slavery in the western territories?
- How did it affect the slaves already living in the western territories?
- How were slaves who attempted to escape from the territories dealt with?
7. - How does the Northwest Ordinance provide for gradual emancipation?
The Internet Resources
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Articles of Confederation
Facts about the Northwest Ordinance
Public Land Survey System
Wikipedia
Avalon Project
Northwest Ordinance & Slavery
More on slavery
The Big Question
Why is the Northwest Ordinance considered to be one of the most important pieces of legislation during the Confederation
period? Explain its impact at that time in which it was introduced and later as the young nation moved forward.
Content by T.O.O.L.- MTHS
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/huntnorthwest.html
Last revised Wed Aug 3 16:26:34 US/Pacific 2005
(Document A-2)
Comparative Studies: The Ordinance
of 1787 and the Constitution
The Constitution and the Northwest Ordinance were both written in the summer of 1787. The Bill of Rights to
the Constitution was ratified in 1791. Excerpts from both documents appear below. Complete the following:
1. Identify similarities between the two documents and give possible explanations as to why these
similarities exist.
2. What civil liberties were enjoyed by residents in the Northwest Territory in advance of the residents in
the original states.
3. Identify features in the Northwest Ordinance that would have been most attractive to late- eighteenthcentury immigrants.
U. S. Constitution
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition to government for a redress
of grievances.
Article 1, Section 9
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not
be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or
invasion the public safety may require it.
Amendment 7
In suits at common law... the right of trial by jury
shall be preserved.
Amendment 8
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
finds imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
Amendment 5
(N)o person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor shall
private property be taken for public use without just
compensation.
Northwest Ordinance
Article 1
No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner,
shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or
religious sentiments, in the said territory.
Article 2
The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be entitled to the
benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury.
Article 2
All persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offenses ... All fines
shall be moderate; no cruel or unusual punishments shall be
inflicted.
Article 2
No man shall be deprived of his liberty or property, but by the
judgment of his peers or the law of the land; should the public
exigencies make it necessary for the common preservation, to take
any person's property or to demand his particular services, full
compensation shall be made for the same.
Article 3
Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary for good
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means
of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith
shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and
property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and
in their property, rights, and liberty they shall never be invaded or
disturbed unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress;
but laws founded in justice and humanity shall, from time to time,
be made for preventing wrongs being done to them and for
preserving peace and friendship with them.
U.S. Constitution
Northwest Ordinance
Article 6
This Constitution, and the laws of the United States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof... shall be
the supreme law of the land.
Article 4
The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein,
shall forever remain a part of this Confederacy of the United States
of America, subject to the Articles of Confederation.
Article 4, Section 1
No person held to service or labor in one state, under
the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in
consequence of any law or regulation therein, be
discharged from such service or labor, but shall be
delivered up on claim of the party to whom such
service or labor may be due.
Article 5
There shall be formed in the said territory not less than three nor
more than five states; and boundaries of the states as soon as
Virginia shall alter her act cession and consent to the same, shall
become fixed and established ... And whenever any of the said
states shall have 60,000 free inhabitants therein, such state shall be
admitted by its delegates into the Congress of the United States, on
an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatever;
and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and state
government: provided the constitution and government so to be
formed shall be republican, and in conformity to the principles
contained in these articles, and, so far as it can be consistent with
the general interests of the Confederacy, such admission shall be
allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less number
of free inhabitants in the state than 60,000.
Article 6
That any person escaping into the same (territory), from whom
labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original
States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to
the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.