Northwest Territory
Examine and evaluate primary
and secondary sources involving
the Northwest Ordinance and
relate its significance to
developing geography of the
United States
Western Territory
• After the
Revolutionary War,
many pioneers
crossed the
Appalachian
Mountains and settled
in the Northwest
Territory.
Western Territory
• The Northwest
Territory included the
present-day states of
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan, and
Wisconsin.
Western Territory
• Other pioneers
moved into the
Southwest Territory,
which today is made
up of Kentucky,
Tennessee,
Mississippi, and
Alabama.
Western Territory
• These two territories
lay between the
Appalachian
Mountains and the
Mississippi River, the
western boundary of
the United States.
Western Territory
• For many years,
seven states along
the Atlantic Coast
claimed their western
boundaries extended
to the Mississippi
River and beyond.
Western Territory
• Some state claims
overlapped and led to
bitter disputes.
Finally, these states
agreed to give up
their claims, and the
Western lands were
taken over by the
United States
government.
Land Ordinance of 1785
• To control the settlement and development
of the Northwest Territory, Congress
passed two important laws –– the Land
Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest
Ordinance.
Land Ordinance of 1785
• The Land Ordinance
of 1785 established
definite boundary
lines so there would
be no confusion and
legal disputes over
land ownership.
Northwest Ordinance of 1785
The diagram shows the way in which Western lands
were to be divided and sold. Study the diagram, four
sections were reserved for Revolutionary War veterans
(usually section 8, 11, 26, and 29)
Sale of Land
1. The land was
auctioned off by
section to the
highest bidder.
2. The minimum cost
per acre was $1.
3. Land companies
purchased sections
and divided them
into smaller lots
which were sold to
settlers.
1 Acre = 43,560 square feet
208.71 feet
208.71 feet
200 ft
Approx.
one
square
acre
1 square mile
DODSON
Land Ordinance of 1785
By comparing the two maps can you
see how the NW Ordinance change
the landscape of the United States?
Ohio
Maryland
Legacy
• As the United States continued to grow
and expand west towns and cities were
planned using a north/south, east/west
grid
Dilemma
• How should the Northwest Territory be
governed?
• Should the territories become states?
Steps to Statehood
Objective: Students will be able to
illustrate and explain the process for
new states to join the Union
CA Standard 8.1,3
Print the flow chart titled “STEPS TO BECOMING A
STATE”
Complete the flow chart by filling in the information
provided on the following slides
U.S. Territory
• Before any process can begin an area must first
become a U.S. Territory
• After the Revolutionary War Britain ceded to the
United States all the land between the
Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi
River
• That area was quickly made into the Northwest
and the Southwest Territories
• The Northwest Territory was north of the Ohio
River
• The Southwest Territory, south of the Ohio River
was claimed by states directly east
Governors, Secretaries, & judges
• U.S. Territories needed to be governed so
Congress would appoint a governor, a
secretary, and 3 judges
Population Growth
• The right to self govern was granted when
a territory
– Had over 5,000 free males of voting age
Self-Government
• The people in a territory elected territorial
legislature & would send a non-voting
delegate (representative) to Congress
Population Growth
• A territory or portion of one would have the
right apply for statehood when the
population exceeded 60,000 free
inhabitants
Request Statehood
• Territory must draft a state constitution
• Send draft to Congress with application for
statehood
Approval
• Congress must approve application and
want that territory to become a state
• Not all territories become states
– Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, etc.
• Some states have requested to be divided,
not all requests are approved
– Maine & West Virginia– Approved
– Oklahoma & California – Denied