The Land Ordinance of 1785

The Land Ordinance of 1785 was a law passed by the U.S. Congress to organize and sell land in the Northwest Territory, which was acquired after the American Revolution. It established a systematic way to survey and divide the land into townships, each consisting of 36 sections. This helped facilitate the sale of land to settlers and encouraged westward expansion. The ordinance aimed to promote orderly settlement and provide funding for the federal government, while also setting aside land for public schools. Overall, it was a crucial step in the development of the United States' western territories.