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Essay On Northwest Ordinance

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{Jason Wilson} The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was an important stepping stone for the United States after winning the American Revolution in 1783. This Ordinance created rules and regulations for the continued expansion of the United States of America set up by the Articles of Confederation Congress. The “Northwest” refers to what is known today as; Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and a small part of Minnesota. This gave the federal government a source of revenue that was badly needed in light of the Articles of Confederation. These territories were given the standards to which they would become states and gain representation in the federal government. Settlers were also granted rights that foreshadowed those given in the Bill of Rights. The Northwest Ordinance, while not perfect, laid the foundation for action regarding new states, individual rights, and Indian policy. In the …show more content…

In these territories, freedom of religion was granted allowing a place for minority religious groups to seek refuge. The right of Habeas Corpus, ban to cruel and unusual punishment, and trial by jury was also placed into the charter. The Northwest ordinances also held a provision for a public university to be created. The ordinance stated "religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." This led to creation of what is today Ohio University and their first graduating class of 1815. The most important law created for the territories was the abolition of slavery. While fugitive slave laws existed, the banning of holding slaves in these territories helped balance the power to the Union during the Civil War. Southern states originally supported the banning of slavery, as they did not want to have to compete with the Northwest in commodity crops such as

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