United States History Student Edition

The Northwest Ordinance The Northwest Ordinance, passed in 1787, created a single Northwest Territory from lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. According to the ordinance, the lands were to be divided into three to five smaller territories. When a territory had 60,000 residents, the people could seek statehood. Each new state would have the same standing as the original 13 states. The Northwest Ordinance had a bill of rights for the settlers in the territory. It guaranteed freedom of religion and trial by jury. It also stated, “There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory.” This clause , or condition added to a document, marked the first attempt by the national government to stop the spread of slavery in the United States. The Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance attempted to make possible the settlement of the Northwest Territory in a peaceful and orderly way. In general, the laws were successful, although as settlers moved onto Native American lands, conflicts developed. The United States Congress would later take a similar step in the South. In 1798, it created the Mississippi Territory from land west of Georgia. Congress organized the government of the territory in the same basic way as in the Northwest Territory—except that slavery was allowed. Land Act of 1800 The Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance aimed to encourage settlement in the

Northwest Territory. In time, it became clear that people needed even more help. In 1800, Congress passed the Land Act. This law made it easier for people to buy land in the territory. For example, the act made it possible for people to pay for land a little at a time. Under the terms of this law, a person was required to buy at least 320 acres of land at a price of $2 per acre. The buyer could pay half of the money at the time of purchase, and the remaining money was owed in four yearly payments. 7 CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 1. Summarizing What was the purpose of the Ordinance of 1785? 2. Identifying Cause and Effect Why do you think the Land Act of 1800 made it possible for people to pay for their land a little at a time? Domestic and Foreign Issues GUIDING QUESTION In what ways was the Confederation government weak? Because of its weakness, the Confederation government had trouble with financial issues. Continentals, paper bills the Continental Congress printed during the war, did not hold their value. By 1781, the currency had depreciated (dih•PREE•shee•ayt•ed), or fallen in value, so far that it was worth almost nothing. As more continentals appeared, people realized that Congress could not exchange or trade in the bills for gold or silver.

clause a special condition in a formal document

depreciate to fall in value

This painting shows settlers traveling to the new western lands in the late 1700s. The sale of these lands provided opportunity for many Americans, who eagerly moved to the region. The painting was created in the late 1800s by artist Howard Pyle.

PHOTO: North Wind Picture Archives/Alamy Stock Photo; TEXT: Northwest Ordinance, July 13, 1787; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M332, roll 9); Miscellaneous Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives.

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