Changes

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and sold 640 acre chunks at auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted too pay so much money in order to obtain much land, so these chunks were often bought and divided by investors, and then sold to farmers.

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and sold 640 acre chunks at auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted too pay so much money in order to obtain much land, so these chunks were often bought and divided by investors, and then sold to farmers.

The [[Northwest Ordinance]] of 1787 was the most important achievement of the Confederation period.  Keep in mind that the "northwest" in 1787 consisted of what is now Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan, which were territories northwest of the 13 colonies.  This Ordinance established the requirements and procedures a territory must fulfill in order to become a state, and the type of governments the territories should have.

When a new territory in the "northwest" had less than 5000 adult free (non-slave) males, it was to be ruled by a governor, a secretary, and three judges appointed by Congress.  When the population exceeded 5000, then they could elect a legislature (assembly) that could send a nonvoting person to Congress.  A territory was required to have at least 60,000 free men living in it before it could apply for statehood, and slavery was prohibited north of the Ohio River.  A republican form of government was required in order for a territory to become a new state.

When a territory had less than 5000 adult white males, it was ruled by a governor and three judges appointed by Congress.  When the population exceeded 5000, then they could elect a legislature that could send a nonvoting person to Congress. A territory was required to have at least 60,000 white men living in it before it could apply for statehood, and slavery was prohibited north of the Ohio River.  Each new state was required to have a republican form of government.

The Northwest Ordinance was the first to protect territories against the taking of property by government without just compensation, which was later enacted as part of the Fifth Amendment.  The Northwest Ordinance protected other individual rights that would later become part of the [[Bill of Rights]]:  religious freedom, a right to a writ of habeas corpus (which enables anyone imprisoned to demand a hearing to argue to be freed) and trial by jury. In addition the ordinance encouraged education and forbade slavery.  

The Northwest Ordinance was a huge success, establishing how new states could be created in a peaceful and orderly manner.  This Ordinance was passed as the [[Constitutional Convention]] was going on.  When the Articles of Confederation were replaced, the Ordinance was passed again under the new Constitution.

The Northwest Ordinance was a huge success, establishing how new states could be created in a peaceful and orderly manner.  This Ordinance was passed as the Constitutional Convention was going on.  When the Articles of Confederation were replaced, the Ordinance was passed again under the new Constitution.

==Shays' Rebellion==

==Shays' Rebellion==