Northwest Ordinance

The Northwest Ordinance, enacted in 1787, was a key law that established how the Northwest Territory (areas north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi) would be governed and expanded into states. It set procedures for territorial governance, including the appointment of officials and the creation of local governments. Importantly, it outlined rights for settlers, prohibited slavery in the territory, and encouraged education. Once a territory reached a population of 60,000, it could apply for statehood. This ordinance helped organize the growth of the United States and ensured orderly development and expansion westward.