Topic: Historical Documents Some documents in American history have considerable importance for the development of the nation. Students use historical thinking to examine key documents which form the basis for the United States of America.

Historical Document #2: The Northwest Ordinance Content Statement: The Northwest Ordinance addressed a need for government in the Northwest Territory and established precedents for the future governing of the United States. Expectations for Learning: Show how the Northwest Ordinance, in providing government for the Northwest Territory, established a precedent for governing the United States.

Historical Document #2: Northwest Ordinance Content Elaborations: As Ohio country settlement progressed in the Connecticut Western Reserve and the Virginia Military District, and with the enactment of the Land Ordinance of 1785, the Congress of the United States recognized a need for governing land acquired in the Treaty of Paris. The Northwest Ordinance provided the basis for temporary governance as a territory and eventual entry into the United States as states. The Northwest Ordinance also set some precedents that influenced how the United States would be governed in later years. New states were to be admitted “into the Congress of the United States.” This provision was continued in later years and it meant that there would be no colonization of the lands as there had been under Great Britain. “Schools and the means of education” were to be encouraged. This wording reinforced the provision in the Land Ordinance of 1785 allocating one section of each township for the support of schools and of citizenship (e.g., religious liberty, right to trial by jury, writ of habeas corpus) were assured. These assurances were precursors to the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. Slavery was prohibited in the Northwest Territory. This provision was later included in the Constitution as Amendment 13. State governments were to be republican in structure. This provision was repeated in the U.S. Constitution.

1. Declaration of Independence 2. Northwest Ordinance 3. Constitution of the United States 4. Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers 5. Bill of Rights WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY

Moving West The Land Ordinance of 1785 & The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

New Land Policies Beginning of the Revolution – Only a few thousand lived west of the Appalachian Mountains – Treaty of Paris of 1763 Proclamation Line of 1763 Forbid moving West By 1790’s – Treaty of Paris of 1783 allowed Americans to move west – Around 120,000 Settlers wanted to organize their lands and join the Union

States Relinquish Territories All states relinquished land claims in the new territory and gave it to the congress

Congress in Debt Congress had no power to tax the inhabitants of the United States – Goal of the Land Ordinance of 1785 To raise money through the sale of land Pay off war debts Organize new territories gained under the Treaty of Paris of 1783

Dividing and Selling Land Congress surveyed and Divided the land in order to sell it to people moving west. They passed the “Land Ordinance of 1785” to divide the land.

Dividing the Land Divided into Townships – 6 Miles Long Townships divided into 36 Sections – 640 Acres – Sold at public auctions for at least $1

Land Speculations Speculators viewed the law as an opportunity to accumulate land cheaply – Concerned with the lawlessness in the West, Richard Henry Lee urged, “the rights of property be clearly defined” – Congress solved this problem by setting up a new Ordinance called “The Northwest Ordinance of 1787”

The Northwest Ordinance Setting up government in the Northwest Territory

The Northwest Ordinance

Passed in 1787 Created the Northwest Territory Would divide the lands into 3-5 smaller territories

Setting Up Boundaries Northwest Territory – First Organized Territory of the United States Boundaries – South of the Great Lakes – North and West of the Ohio River – East of the Mississippi

Abolition of State Claims The new territory was to be controlled by the central government States had to give up their land claims in the West Congress would be the legislative body of the new territories

Reaching Statehood When the territory reached a population of 5,000 “free male inhabitants of full age” they could form a legislature. Once the Territory reached a population of 60,000 it could apply for statehood – These states would be admitted to the Union with equal rights of the original 13 states.

Establishing Civil Rights Property Rights were Promised Religious Tolerance was proclaimed Free Public Education No Cruel or Unusual Punishment Trial By Jury

The Prohibition of Slavery Slavery and Involuntary Servitude was illegal

Rights of the Native Americans “The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their land and property shall never be taken without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed.”