The Northwest Territory in 1787

The Northwest Territory, established by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, was a vast area of land that marked the first organized territory of the United States. It covered land west of Pennsylvania, north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Great Lakes. This territory laid the foundation for westward expansion and the creation of new states.

Key Features of the Northwest Territory in 1787:

Geographic Boundaries:

North: Bounded by the Great Lakes (Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan) and the British-controlled territories in Canada.

East: Bordered by Pennsylvania.

South: Defined by the Ohio River, separating it from the states of Virginia, Kentucky (which was part of Virginia until 1792), and Pennsylvania.

West: Extended to the Mississippi River.

States Formed from the Northwest Territory (The Northwest Territory eventually became the following states - n.b.):

Ohio (1803)

Indiana (1816)

Illinois (1818)

Michigan (1837)

Wisconsin (1848)

Part of Minnesota (the land east of the Mississippi River, added to Minnesota in 1849)

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787:

Governance Structure: The Northwest Ordinance provided for a territorial government, with a governor, a secretary, and three judges appointed by Congress. As the population grew, residents could elect a territorial legislature.

Statehood Process: The ordinance established a clear process for a territory to become a state. Once a territory reached 60,000 free inhabitants, it could draft a constitution and apply for statehood.

Slavery: The Northwest Ordinance prohibited slavery in the territory, setting a precedent for future territories in the northern part of the United States.

Rights and Liberties: The ordinance guaranteed fundamental rights for settlers, including freedom of religion, the right to a trial by jury, and other civil liberties.

Native American Relations: The ordinance stated that Native American lands should not be taken without their consent, though this was often ignored in practice as settlers moved westward.

Significance:

Model for Future Expansion: The Northwest Ordinance became a blueprint for how the United States would expand westward and create new states. It established a process that balanced the admission of new states while ensuring they had the same rights as the original states.

Legacy of Freedom: The prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory was a significant step toward the division between free and slave states, which would later play a crucial role in American history leading up to the Civil War.

Foundation of Midwestern States: The area covered by the Northwest Territory eventually became some of the key Midwestern states, which played a vital role in the nation's development.

The Northwest Territory and the Ordinance of 1787 were pivotal in shaping the early United States, providing a framework for governance, expansion, and the creation of new states.