Northwest Territory

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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

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787
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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

1. CONFEDERATION a group of loosely joined, but
   sovereign states.

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

1. 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)

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

1. 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

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

• LAND ORDINANCE of 1785 Congresss plan to sell
  the land of the Northwest Territory.
• Rectangular Survey System carefully surveyed
  the land into squares to be sold.

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

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

Township
6 MILES
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Townships
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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

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

Section
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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

• Acre the smallest division of land. It sold
  for 1 per acre.
• The average size farm was 40 acres. So, it sold
  for 40.

Lions

50
40
40
30
20
10
30
20
10
ACRE
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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE

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

• How much went for education?
• Answer 640

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• THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787 this document
  establishes
• the principles and procedures for the orderly
  expansion of the United States.

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

• Statehood
• When the population reaches 5,000 adult males the
  area can
• Establish an elected assembly
• Governor still had absolute veto power

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

• When the population reaches 60,000 adult males
  the area can
• can write a state constitution and apply for
  statehood.
• If Congress approves the state Constitution that
  area will become a state.

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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

• Five states

Minnesota
Ohio (1803)
Michigan
Indiana (1816)
Wisconsin
Illinois (1818)
Michigan (1837)
Illinois
Ohio
Wisconsin (1848)
Indiana
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THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

• Rights Guaranteed
• Trial by jury
• Public education
• Freedom of religion
• Prohibition of slavery

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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

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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

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Shays 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.

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Shays Rebellion
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Shays 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.