Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Definition

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a significant piece of legislation enacted by the Confederation Congress that established a framework for the governance and admission of new states in the Northwest Territory. This ordinance set forth guidelines for the orderly settlement and development of the territory, ensuring that new states could join the Union on equal footing with existing states while also promoting education, civil liberties, and the prohibition of slavery in the region.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Northwest Ordinance established a three-stage process for territories to achieve statehood, starting with a governor and judges, followed by an elected legislature, and finally reaching full statehood when a population of 60,000 was achieved.
2. It guaranteed essential rights for settlers in the territory, including freedom of religion, trial by jury, and no slavery allowed in the new states formed from this territory.
3. The ordinance emphasized the importance of education by stating that land would be set aside for public schools in each township.
4. It was one of the first laws to promote civil liberties and was seen as a progressive move for its time regarding human rights.
5. The Northwest Ordinance laid the groundwork for westward expansion and future state admissions, influencing how America would grow in size and governance.

Review Questions

• How did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 structure the process for new territories to become states?
  • The Northwest Ordinance outlined a clear three-step process for territories to achieve statehood. Initially, a territory would be governed by a governor and appointed judges. Once a population of 5,000 free men was reached, they could establish a legislative assembly. Finally, when the population grew to 60,000, they could draft a state constitution and apply for admission as a state into the Union. This framework ensured that new states would enter on equal terms with existing ones.
• Discuss how the Northwest Ordinance addressed civil rights and education within newly formed states.
  • The Northwest Ordinance made significant strides in promoting civil rights by guaranteeing essential freedoms such as freedom of religion and trial by jury for settlers. Moreover, it emphasized education by allocating land for public schools within each township. This focus on rights and education set a precedent for future legislation regarding governance and civil liberties in new territories and states.
• Evaluate the impact of the Northwest Ordinance on westward expansion and its implications for slavery in newly formed states.
  • The Northwest Ordinance had lasting implications for westward expansion by providing a structured approach to settling new territories while ensuring they could attain statehood on an equal basis with existing states. By explicitly prohibiting slavery in these territories, it played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of future states and exacerbating tensions between free and slave states. This ordinance not only facilitated American growth but also laid the groundwork for ongoing debates about slavery that would eventually lead to sectional conflict.

Related terms

Northwest Territory:

A region of land northwest of the Ohio River, which included parts of present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and was established for settlement under the Northwest Ordinance.

Land Ordinance of 1785:

A precursor to the Northwest Ordinance that laid out a method for surveying and selling the lands in the Northwest Territory, emphasizing organized land sales to fund government and public education.

Statehood: The process through which a territory becomes a state within the United States, as outlined in the Northwest Ordinance for territories in the Northwest Region.