1. Unit 9: Lecture 2 The Northwest Ordinance Mr. Smith January 17 th, 2012 8 th grade U.S. History

2. New Land to the West With newly acquired lands in the west, the U.S. had an important question needing to be answered: –What to do with the new Western lands in our control? Two important laws were passed by Congress –The Land Ordinance of 1785 –The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

3. The Land Ordinance of 1785 Has surveyors stake out 6 mile square plots, called townships Each township was required to set aside a square mile section of land for schools The lands later became known as the Northwest Territory –Modern day states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and a portion of Minnesota

4. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Layed out the methods for how the Northwest Territory would be governed Upon 60,000 population being reached, applying for statehood was allowed Also, –Set conditions for settlement –Outlined settler’s rights –Outlawed slavery, but allowed indentured servitude –Automatically freed slaves in the territory –Rivers were open for navigation by all –Freedom of religion was guaranteed –Trial by jury of peers was guaranteed

5. The Importance of the Northwest Ordinance Set a pattern for the orderly growth of the United States The decision to ban slavery in the Northwest Territory led to growing tension between the North and the South