1. Northwest Territory
One of the most important accomplishments under the Articles of Confederation
Planned to sell land to raise revenue
By 1784, a plethora of individuals moved westward
Caused problems with Native Americans
Federal leaders could not afford to fight wars; decided to regulate settlement
All of the new territory in the northwest was considered to be free states; no slaves

2. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

3. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
CONFEDERATION: a group of loosely joined, but sovereign states.

4. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Problem: Many states made claims to the western lands (Northwest Territory).
Boundaries of the Northwest Territory: Great Lakes (north), Pennsylvania (east), Ohio River (south), Mississippi River (west)
Having a plethora people moving into the northwest territory caused many problems for the federal land leaders.
Problems with Native Americans arose, and the federal leaders could not afford to wage war to protect the settlers so they opted to regulate frontier settlement.

5. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Solution to the Problem: All states agreed to cede (give) their claims to Congress, so Congress can sell the land for the good of the country (confederation).
NATIONAL DOMAIN – Public land

6. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
LAND ORDINANCE of 1785: Congress’s plan to sell the land of the Northwest Territory.
Rectangular Survey System – carefully surveyed the land into squares to be sold.
It was divided up into 36 sections each consisting of 1 square mile or 640 acres.
It sold for $1 per acre
This system essentially favored the wealthy because the famers would not be able to afford having to purchase an entire square mile.
They had to rely on the wealthy speculators to sell portions of the land to the farmers
How did the land ordinance of 1785 favor wealthy speculators?
-large portions of land that were very expensive
Why might owners of large farms choose not to buy land in the NW Territory?
-all states in NW Territory are free states; no labor

7. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Township – the largest division of land. It is thirty-six square miles.
Township
6 MILES
6 miles is about Carterville to Herrin (5.8 miles)

8. Townships

9. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Section – 36 sections in a township. It is one square mile or 640 acres.
Section

10. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Acre – the smallest division of land. It sold for $1 per acre.
The average size farm was 40 acres. So, it sold for $40.
An acre is about the size of a football field, but a football field is slightly larger.
An acre is 43, 560 square feet, or 1 square mile
Lions 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
ACRE

11. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
Education – the sale from one section of each township goes to start a school for that township.
How much went for education?
Answer: $640

12. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787 this document establishes…
the principles and procedures for the orderly expansion of the United States.

13. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
Statehood:
When the population reaches 5,000 adult males the area can:
Establish an elected assembly
Governor still had absolute veto power

14. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
When the population reaches 60,000 adult males the area can:
can write a state constitution and apply for statehood.
If Congress approves the state Constitution that area will become a state.

15. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
Five states:
Minnesota
Ohio (1803)
Indiana (1816)
Michigan
Wisconsin
Illinois (1818)
Michigan (1837)
Illinois
Wisconsin (1848)
Ohio
Indiana

16. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
Rights Guaranteed:
Trial by jury
Public education
Freedom of religion
Prohibition of slavery
Freedom and opportunity came at a price for the Indian’s of the region.
100,000 Indians were expected to give up their lands and relocate

17. Conflicts with Spain and Britain
The Spanish forbid American trade with New Orleans
Relations with Britain deteriorated
They rejected free trade and reverted back to mercantilism
American Congress not strong enough to fight against these policies/violations
Forbidding trade essentially discouraged movement west of the Appalachians
Mercantilism: Americans could only trade with the British Empire under rules that favored British interests
They could import as many British goods as possible, but they could no longer freely send their ships to trade with the British (which was the most important market because it contained American fish, lumber, and grains)

18. Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Congress could not levy or collect taxes
Congress was powerless to regulate interstate commerce or foreign trade
Each state had only 1 vote in Congress (regardless of size)
2/3 majority was required to pass laws
Articles could only be amended with the consent of ALL states
No separate executive branch to enforce acts of Congress
No system or federal courts
To survive, Congress sought a constitutional amendment to permit a federal 5% duty on imported goods
This failed twice because 1 state disagreed
Maybe only a new constitution could save the Union

19. Shay’s Rebellion Economic problems in MA and other states
People had too little money; states continued to place high taxes
Farms could be auctioned off and the farmers could be put in jail
Farmers asked for debt relief, Massachusetts Legislature refused.
People could pay up to $200 just in taxes; which is more than a farmer made in one year’s time
If Farmers could not pay off debts; farms could be auctioned off; and farmers could be put in jail

20. Shay’s Rebellion

21. Shay’s Rebellion Led by Daniel Shays, Revolutionary War Veteran
Marched over 1,000 men to federal arsenal; but were put down
Farmers lost; but gained sympathy throughout country
Convinced many Americans that the country needed a new government
•American leaders hoped that the national issues could be solved by strengthening the national government.