A concise review of the cause and effects of the Northwest Ordinance.

1. The NorthwestThe Northwest
OrdinanceOrdinance
Salil GadgilSalil Gadgil
Mr. HaskvitzMr. Haskvitz
Social Studies Period ESocial Studies Period E
5/20/055/20/05

2. Land Policies Under the Articles ofLand Policies Under the Articles of
ConfederationConfederation
Before the RevolutionaryBefore the Revolutionary
War, only a few thousandWar, only a few thousand
people lived west of thepeople lived west of the
Appalachian Mountains. AfterAppalachian Mountains. After
the war, however, thousands ofthe war, however, thousands of
settlers moved westward insettlers moved westward in
hopes of starting a new life.hopes of starting a new life.
These settlers wanted theirThese settlers wanted their
territories to join the nation, butterritories to join the nation, but
the Articles of Confederationthe Articles of Confederation
had no stipulations on addinghad no stipulations on adding
new states. Congress realized thenew states. Congress realized the
federal government needed morefederal government needed more
power to expand the Union.power to expand the Union.

3. The Ordinance of 1785The Ordinance of 1785
Congress decided something needed to be done about theCongress decided something needed to be done about the
territories in the Ohio River Valley after thousands of pioneersterritories in the Ohio River Valley after thousands of pioneers
began settling there. In 1785 the Confederation Congress ratifiedbegan settling there. In 1785 the Confederation Congress ratified
a law which set provisions on surveying and selling lands northa law which set provisions on surveying and selling lands north
of the Ohio River. Since the territory was so massive, theof the Ohio River. Since the territory was so massive, the
ordinance decided it into townships 6 miles long and 6 milesordinance decided it into townships 6 miles long and 6 miles
wide. Each township was supposed divided into 36 sectionswide. Each township was supposed divided into 36 sections
which were comprised of 640 acres each. As an added incentivewhich were comprised of 640 acres each. As an added incentive
for people to move west, land was auctioned starting at a dollarfor people to move west, land was auctioned starting at a dollar
an acre. Large land buyers saw these auctions as a goldenan acre. Large land buyers saw these auctions as a golden
opportunity to gain large pieces of land for a very cheap price.opportunity to gain large pieces of land for a very cheap price.
One concern Congress had was lawless people moving into theOne concern Congress had was lawless people moving into the
Northwest Territory. In order to prevent these people fromNorthwest Territory. In order to prevent these people from
settling they passed a new set of laws which defined the rightssettling they passed a new set of laws which defined the rights
and rules of people living in the new territory.and rules of people living in the new territory.

4. The Northwest OrdinanceThe Northwest Ordinance
After being passed in 1787, the Northwest Ordinance created theAfter being passed in 1787, the Northwest Ordinance created the
Northwest Territory. Prior to the passing of the law, separateNorthwest Territory. Prior to the passing of the law, separate
states claimed possession of territories west of the Appalachianstates claimed possession of territories west of the Appalachian
Mountains. The Northwest Territory comprised of all theMountains. The Northwest Territory comprised of all the
territories in the Ohio River Valley. All land north of the Ohioterritories in the Ohio River Valley. All land north of the Ohio
River and East of the Mississippi River was considered part ofRiver and East of the Mississippi River was considered part of
the Ohio River Valley. After meeting the requirements forthe Ohio River Valley. After meeting the requirements for
statehood, the territories could petition to become a states. Ifstatehood, the territories could petition to become a states. If
accepted, the territory would become a state on the same level asaccepted, the territory would become a state on the same level as
the original thirteen states. Included in the Northwest Ordinancethe original thirteen states. Included in the Northwest Ordinance
was a bill of rights which included things that even the originalwas a bill of rights which included things that even the original
thirteen states did not have.thirteen states did not have.

5. Territories in the Ohio River ValleyTerritories in the Ohio River Valley
 Five states currently inFive states currently in
the United States werethe United States were
once Northwestonce Northwest
Territories.Territories.
 They were:They were:
WisconsinWisconsin
IllinoisIllinois
MichiganMichigan
IndianaIndiana
OhioOhio

6. How a Territory Became a StateHow a Territory Became a State
 Until the population of a territory reached 5,000 it would be runUntil the population of a territory reached 5,000 it would be run
by a territorial governor, a secretary, and three judges.by a territorial governor, a secretary, and three judges.
 After it had 5,000 settlers, a territory would have an electedAfter it had 5,000 settlers, a territory would have an elected
legislature, and send a nonvoting member to the House oflegislature, and send a nonvoting member to the House of
Representatives.Representatives.
 After the population of a territory surpassed 60,000 it couldAfter the population of a territory surpassed 60,000 it could
apply for full-fledged statehood.apply for full-fledged statehood.
 The Northwest Ordinance states no less than three and noThe Northwest Ordinance states no less than three and no
greater than five states would be created.greater than five states would be created.
 Ultimately five states were created through the ordinanceUltimately five states were created through the ordinance

7. Northwest Ordinance’s Bill of RightsNorthwest Ordinance’s Bill of Rights
Some of the thingsSome of the things
included in theincluded in the
settler’s Bill of Rights were:settler’s Bill of Rights were:
 Guaranteed Freedom ofGuaranteed Freedom of
ReligionReligion
 Trial by JuryTrial by Jury
 Habeas CorpusHabeas Corpus
 No Slavery orNo Slavery or
Involuntary ServitudeInvoluntary Servitude

8. Effects of the Northwest OrdinanceEffects of the Northwest Ordinance
In more ways than one, the NorthwestIn more ways than one, the Northwest
Ordinance changed America’s future. NotOrdinance changed America’s future. Not
only did open the door for futureonly did open the door for future
expansion, it made citizens more interestedexpansion, it made citizens more interested
in moving westward. Banning slavery, andin moving westward. Banning slavery, and
having a separate bill of rights were alsohaving a separate bill of rights were also
new things which the Northwestnew things which the Northwest
Ordinance introduced. When theOrdinance introduced. When the
Constitution was ratified without a Bill ofConstitution was ratified without a Bill of
Rights Congressmen used the NorthwestRights Congressmen used the Northwest
Territories as examples. Abolitionists alsoTerritories as examples. Abolitionists also
used the Northwestern territories asused the Northwestern territories as
examples when they campaigned to endexamples when they campaigned to end
slavery. Without the Northwest Ordinance,slavery. Without the Northwest Ordinance,
America would be a whole different place.America would be a whole different place.