1. Objective: To examine the settlement of the Northwest Territory and the importance of Shays’ Rebellion.

2. Land Ordinance of 1785
• Congress surveyed the land into squares 6 miles on each side. (townships)

3. Land Ordinance of 1785
• Each town was divided into 36 smaller sections, 640 acres each. (the cost was a minimum of $1 per acre)

4. Land Ordinance of 1785
• People pooled their money in order to be able to afford a piece of land.

5. Theoretical township diagram showing method of numbering sections with adjoining sections.

6. Sargent County, North Dakota
Township Map
Sargent County, North Dakota

8. Northwest Ordinance (1787)
• When 5,000 free males of voting age settled an area, it became self-governing.
• When the population reached 60,000 free citizens, the area could apply for statehood. Ex.) OH, IN, IL, MI, WI
• Slavery was outlawed.

9. Shays’ Rebellion
• Farmer’s income decreased while taxes increased.
• Farmers who could not pay their debts had their farms taken away by the courts.
Massachusetts farmer Daniel Shays and his supporters occupy a Massachusetts courthouse.

10. • Therefore, in 1786, Daniel Shays led a group of farmers in an attempt to capture a federal arsenal.
Men Fighting During Shays' Rebellion

11. • The U. S. , without an organized army, was powerless
• The U.S., without an organized army, was powerless. Massachusetts sent a militia to stop the rebellion.

12. • Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the U. S
• Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the U.S. needed a new, stronger government.
• The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced!

13. This is a picture of Daniel Shays grave in Scottsburg, NY.