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The Northwest Territory. Unit 2, Lesson 4. The United States. The Treaty of Paris officially named the United States of America as a new country. Treaty = gave most British Lands south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi River to the United States British still held some forts.
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The Northwest Territory Unit 2, Lesson 4
The United States • The Treaty of Paris officially named the United States of America as a new country. • Treaty = gave most British Lands south of the Great Lakes and east of the Mississippi River to the United States • British still held some forts. • Spain claimed lands west of the Mississippi River.
A New Territory • The United States had many debts post-war. • American Revolution = costly • Debt something owned, often money • Many American soldiers, farmers, and merchants had not been paid. • France, which helped the United States win the war by sending soldiers and supplies, was also owed money.
A New Territory • Congress decided to use lands in an area that came to be called the Northwest Territory to help pay debts. • Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota • Territory an area owned and governed by a country • Plan = Congress would pay some soldiers with land instead of money. Other lands in the territory would be sold to raise money.
Settling the Northwest Territory • Before Congress could use the lands in the Northwest Territory, it had to settle some border conflicts. • Parts were claimed by states (Virginia, New York) • In many ways, the 13 colonies acted like separate countries before the Revolutionary War. • The war had shown the importance of acting as one nation. • To support the new government, states gave up their land claims.
The Land Ordinance of 1785 • Land Ordinance of 1785 a plan passed by Congress to settle the Northwest Territory • Ordinance law • The ordinance told how the Northwest Territory would be surveyed (measured). • Land was divided into squares called townships. • Each township was then divided into 36 smaller squares (sections). • Each section was one square mile. • One section in each township was set aside for a school.
The Northwest Ordinance • 1787 Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance • This law set up a plan for governing the Northwest Territory • Described how new states would be formed • Land in the Northwest Territory would be divided into large territories. • Once a territory had 60,000 people, it could become a state. • Each new state would be equal to the other state in every way.
The Northwest Ordinance • The Northwest Ordinance promised settlers freedom of religion and other rights. • Right a freedom that belongs to a person • Slavery was banned in states formed from the Northwest Territory. • Congress appointed Arthur St. Clair, a former Revolutionary War general, as governor of the Northwest Territory. • Part of his task was to stop the fighting between settlers and Native Americans.
The Northwest Ordinance • Native Americans in the Northwest Territory did not want to leave their lands. • 1789 St. Clair convinced some tribes to sign the Treaty of Fort Harmar • Tribes gave up much of their lands • Most Native Americans ignored the treaty because many leaders were not at the treaty talks.
The Ohio Territory • Land in the Northwest Territory did not cost much. • Some land was sold for less than $1 an acre. • The land was sold in big pieces, usually to companies who then sold similar pieces of land to settlers.
Early Towns • Many people were eager to settle in what is now Ohio. • As land became easier to buy, settlers from eastern states and Europe began to move to the region. • Marietta first town in the Ohio Territory • Founded by 50 settlers in 1788 • Led by Rufus Putnam started one of the companies that had bought land in Ohio from the government
Marietta, Ohio • Directions
Early Towns • Cincinnati • Land purchased by John Cleves Symmes • Originally named Losantiville in 1790 by Arthur St. Clair • Belpre • Bathsheba Rouse first female teacher in Ohio Territory • Began teaching in this are in 1789 • Cleveland • Rebecca Fuller and her family were the first Europeans to settle in this area. • Their log cabin served as the community’s store, trading post, church and jail.
Farms and Businesses • Farmers in Ohio: • Grew wheat, corn, and fruit. • Raised cattle, pigs, and sheep which were often sold to people in eastern cities. • Early businesses in Ohio served settlers. • Mills ground grain into flour. • Cincinnati became a pork-processing center in the early 1800sOther businesses build farm tools, and there were stores, blacksmiths, and barbers in early towns.
