1. The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Territory

2. Settling the Public Domain
The Articles of Confederation did not give congress the power to tax
In order to raise money they looked to the sale of the public lands in the west
One of the major questions that had to be answered by the Confederation Congress was how to deal with the sale and settlement of the public lands
States that claimed lands in the western territories ceded them to the government

3. Land Ordinance of 1785
Provided an orderly procedure to sell lands north of Ohio River
Divided territory into townships
6 miles x 6 miles square
Opportunity to buy a lot of cheap land
Some land was reserved for Revolutionary War veterans

4. Land Ordinance of 1785 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
6 miles
6 miles
Land sold for $1 per acre A
A – Half-section = 320 acres
B – Quarter-section = 160 acres
C – Half-quarter section = 80 acres
D – Quarter-quarter section = 40 acres C B D D

5. Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Passed in 1787, it created a government for the Northwest Territory
Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River
Section 1
Northwest Territory was to be divided into at least 3 but no more than 5 states
Section 2
3-step process to achieve statehood Could petition for statehood
At first territory would be ruled by a governor, secretary and 3 judges appointed by Congress
When adult male population reached 5,000 they elect territorial legislature and a territorial delegate to Congress
When TOTAL population reached 60,000 they could apply for statehood
Would come into Union with all rights & privileges of original 13 states
Set a precedent that new states would have equal status to old states

6. Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Section 3
Created a Bill of rights for settlers
Slavery would not be allowed in the Northwest territory
Insured that northern states would be free territory
Protected freedom of religion
Ensured trial by jury