What was the Northwest Ordinance?
The Northwest Ordinance was a federal law passed by the U.S. Congress on July 13, 1787. It established a process for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory, which encompassed the land northwest of the Ohio River. The ordinance outlined how territories could be organized and led to the eventual creation of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin as states.
Key provisions of the Northwest Ordinance included the prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory, the protection of individual rights and property, the establishment of public education, and the promotion of religious freedom. It also set a precedent for the peaceful expansion of the United States and ensured that new states would have equal status and rights as existing states. The Northwest Ordinance is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Confederation Congress and laid the foundation for future territorial acquisitions and state admissions.