1.Content Statement/Learning Goal
• Show how the Northwest Ordinance, in
providing government for the Northwest
Territory, established a precedent for
governing the United States.
2.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
3.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
4.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
I.
CONFEDERATION: a group of
loosely joined, but sovereign states.
5.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
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)
7.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
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
8.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
Rights Guaranteed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Trial by jury
Public education
Freedom of religion
Prohibition of slavery
Habeas corpus
9.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
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.
10.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
1. Township – the largest division of land.
It is thirty-six square miles.
12.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
2. Section – 36 sections in a township. It is
one square mile or 640 acres.
36 30
24
18
12
6
35 29
23
17
11
5
34 28 22 16 10 4
33 27
21
9
3
32 26 20 14 8
2
31 25
1
19
15
13
7
13.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
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.
14.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
B. Education – the sale from one section of each
township goes to start a school for that
township. It is Section 16 that is devoted to
public education .
III. 15.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
of 1787 this document establishes…
 the principles and procedures for the
orderly expansion of the United States.
 **CONTENT STATEMENT**
16.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
A. Statehood:
1. When the population reaches 5,000 adult
males the area can:
a. Establish an elected assembly
b. Governor still had absolute veto
power
17.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
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.
18.THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
Three to Five states:
Ohio (1803)
Indiana (1816)
Illinois (1818)
Michigan (1837)
Wisconsin (1848)
19.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
20. Content Statement/Learning Goal
• Analyze and explain problems with the
Articles of Confederation that led to
the creation of the Constitution
21.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.
22.Shay’s Rebellion
23.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.
24.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)
• States could enter into foreign treaties without approval
• Article VI: No 2 or more states shall enter into any
treaty…without the consent of U.S. and Congress.
• 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
• Legislature strongest branch and only branch with any real
authority.