Northwest Territory

Northwest Territory

• One of the most important accomplishments under the Articles of Confederation

• Planned to sell land to raise revenue• By 1784, a plethora of individuals moved

westward – Caused problems with Native Americans – Federal leaders could not afford to fight wars;

decided to regulate settlement

THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 17871787

THE NORTHWEST THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCEORDINANCE

I. CONFEDERATION: a group of loosely joined, but sovereign states.


A. Problem: Many states made claims to the western lands (Northwest Territory).

Boundaries of the Northwest Territory: Great Lakes (north), Pennsylvania (east), Ohio River (south), Mississippi River (west)


B. Solution to the Problem: All states agreed to cede (give) their claims to Congress, so Congress can sell the land for the good of the country (confederation).

NATIONAL DOMAIN – Public land


II. LAND ORDINANCE of 1785: Congress’s plan to sell the land of the Northwest Territory.

A. Rectangular Survey System – carefully surveyed the land into squares to be sold.


1. Township – the largest division of land. It is thirty-six square miles.


2. Section – 36 sections in a township. It is one square mile or 640 acres.


3. Acre – the smallest division of land. It sold for $1 per acre.

The average size farm was 40 acres. So, it sold for $40.


B. Education – the sale from one section of each township goes to start a school for that township.

How much went for education?Answer: $640

III.III. THE NORTHWEST THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787ORDINANCE of 1787 this this document establishes…document establishes…

the principles and procedures for the orderly expansion of the United States.


A. Statehood:1. When the population reaches 5,000 adult

males the area can: a. Establish an elected assemblyb. Governor still had absolute veto

power


2. When the population reaches 60,000 adult males the area can:

a. can write a state constitution and apply for statehood.

b. If Congress approves the state Constitution that area will become a state.


Five states:

Indiana (1816)Ohio (1803)

Illinois (1818)Michigan (1837)Wisconsin (1848)


Rights Guaranteed:1. Trial by jury2. Public education3. Freedom of religion4. Prohibition of slavery

Conflicts with Spain and Britain

• The Spanish forbid American trade with New Orleans

• Relations with Britain deteriorated– They rejected free trade and reverted back to

mercantilism• American Congress not strong enough to

fight against these policies/violations

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

• Congress could not levy or collect taxes• Congress was powerless to regulate interstate commerce or

foreign trade• Each state had only 1 vote in Congress (regardless of size)• 2/3 majority was required to pass laws• Articles could only be amended with the consent of ALL

states• No separate executive branch to enforce acts of Congress• No system or federal courts

Shay’s Rebellion• Economic problems in MA and other states• People had too little money; states continued to

place high taxes• Farms could be auctioned off and the farmers

could be put in jail• Farmers asked for debt relief, Massachusetts

Legislature refused.

Shay’s Rebellion

Shay’s Rebellion• Led by Daniel Shays, Revolutionary War Veteran• Marched over 1,000 men to federal arsenal; but were

put down• Farmers lost; but gained sympathy throughout country

• Convinced many Americans that the country needed a new government

• •American leaders hoped that the national issues could be solved by strengthening the national government.

Documents

Northwest Territory