Northwest Ordinance facts for kids

Northwest Territory (1787)

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a very important law in early American history. It decided what would happen to a huge area of land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. This land, called the Northwest Territory, would eventually become part of the United States. The Ordinance encouraged people to move west and settle new areas.

This law set up rules for how the territory would be governed. It also included important rights and ideas that later became part of the United States Constitution. These ideas included protecting freedom of religion, ensuring fair trials for people accused of crimes, supporting public education, and respecting Native American land rights. The Ordinance also explained how new states could join the country and, very importantly, it banned slavery in this new territory.

The Northwest Territory eventually became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.

What Was the Northwest Ordinance?

The Northwest Ordinance was a law passed by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787. This was before the current United States Constitution was written. The United States had just won its independence from Great Britain. The country now owned a vast amount of land west of the original 13 states. This land was known as the Northwest Territory.

The government needed a plan for how to manage this new territory. They also wanted to make sure that people moving there would have rights and a way to form their own governments. The Ordinance was the answer to these challenges.

Why Was This Law Important?

The Northwest Ordinance was a big deal for several reasons:

• Organizing New Land: It was the first time the U.S. government created a clear process for new territories to become states. This idea of adding new states equally is still used today.
• Protecting Rights: It guaranteed many basic rights to settlers, like freedom of religion and the right to a fair trial. These rights were very new and important for the time.
• Banning Slavery: It was one of the first times the U.S. government officially banned slavery in a large area. This was a major step in the debate over slavery in America.
• Supporting Education: The law said that land should be set aside for public schools. This showed that the early American leaders believed education was important for everyone.

Key Rules and Rights

The Northwest Ordinance had six main articles, or sections, that laid out important rules:

• Article I: Guaranteed freedom of worship. This meant people could practice any religion they chose without fear.
• Article II: Protected basic legal rights. This included the right to a trial by jury and protection from unfair punishment.
• Article III: Stressed the importance of education and good faith towards Native Americans. It said that schools should be encouraged and that Native American lands and property should not be taken without their consent.
• Article IV: Stated that the new states formed from the territory would forever be part of the United States. It also guaranteed free use of the Mississippi River and Saint Lawrence River for trade.
• Article V: Explained how new states would be created. Once a territory had enough people (60,000 free inhabitants), it could write its own constitution and apply to become a state.
• Article VI: Forbade slavery and involuntary servitude in the territory. This was a very important rule, though it did allow for the return of runaway enslaved people.

States Formed from the Territory

The Northwest Territory was a vast area. Over time, five new states were created entirely from this land:

• Ohio (became a state in 1803)
• Indiana (became a state in 1816)
• Illinois (became a state in 1818)
• Michigan (became a state in 1837)
• Wisconsin (became a state in 1848)

A small part of the territory also became part of Minnesota when it became a state in 1858.

Images for kids

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  Map of the states and territories of the United States as it was on August 7, 1789, when the Northwest Territory was organized

See also

In Spanish: Ordenanza Noroeste para niños