The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Also Known As: An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, North-West of the River Ohio

Question: • What type of government do we have in the U.S.? • A. Socialist - C. Democratic -E. Monarchy • B. Communist - D. Republic - F. Other

Question: • How do we determine what our government can and cannot do? In other words, who makes the rules? • A. We, the people do…everyday • B. The people in our government can be trusted to do what’s right. • C. Our country has a legal document that allows it to do some things and forbids it to do others.

Question: • How is our government structured? • A. 2 Branches: President (Executive) and Senators (Legislative) • B. 2 Branches: President (Executive) and Congress (Legislative) • C. 3 Branches: President (Executive); Congress (Senators) and House of Representatives (Legislative) • D. 3 Branches: President (Executive); Congress (Legislative) and Judicial (Supreme Court)

Things to Remember • When we think “west” today we think ______________ • When Americans thought “west” in 1780 they thought land up to the Mississippi River. • The land west of the Appalachian Mountains up to the Mississippi River was once French, but was taken by the British after the ______ and ______War. Colonists were not allowed to move west because of the ________ _______ of 1763. • Once the colonies win independence from Britain (1783) that land is now belongs to the new United States. They are free to move, but what does that look like?

Why the Northwest Ordinance Matters • Considered by many historians to be the most important, early government decision made in a new United States government. • During the American Revolution and leading up to the Northwest Ordinance the U.S.’s government was different. Instead of the Constitution we have today our government was run by the Articles of Confederation. • There was no president, no judicial branch, and only one-house Congress (unicameral). Each state had equal votes. In order for a vote to pass, 9/13 states needed to approve. The central (federal) government was weak, power belonged to each state. • States made claims of the western lands, they wanted to expand their state and grab the resources it offered. • In 1787 the government acted to expand the country by limiting the size of each state, and allowed new states to enter, establishing a system that would provide continual growth to the country.

How it Worked • All new settlers in new states were considered equal citizens – hello new wave of immigration! • Any free, white male was able to purchase a cheap one square mile (640 acres) of land. Townships were developed quickly by selling 36 square miles of land on a grid for “no less than $1.00 an acre.” • Each township was made up of 36 square miles. Money from township would automatically fund public education. • No “slavery nor involuntary servitude” allowed. • Once the territory reached the population of 60,000 they were able to apply for statehood.

Question? • Why were Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin settled where they were? What did they all have in common that made that land important to settlers?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787