Changes

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and selling 640 acre chunks at public auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted to 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 selling 640 acre chunks at public auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted to 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 the territory north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the [[Great Lakes]].  It is the land that is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (east of the Mississippi River), which was territory located northwest of the 13 colonies.  [[Image:Northwest Territory.jpg|right|imprecise map of Northwest Territory from the late 1700s]]

The [[Northwest Ordinance of 1787]] was the most important achievement of the Confederation period.  Keep in mind that the "northwest" in 1787 consisted of the territory north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the [[Great Lakes]].  It is the land that is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (east of the Mississippi River), which was territory located northwest of the 13 colonies.  [[Image:Northwest Territory.jpg|right|thumb|imprecise map of Northwest Territory from the late 1700s]]

The Northwest Ordinance established a way to create no less than three and no more than five new states.  It established a three-stage process based on population for new states to be created and join the Confederation of colonies.  It also specified what type of government the new territories and states must have, a requirement that would later become part of the [[U.S. Constitution]].

The Northwest Ordinance established a way to create no less than three and no more than five new states.  It established a three-stage process based on population for new states to be created and join the Confederation of colonies.  It also specified what type of government the new territories and states must have, a requirement that would later become part of the [[U.S. Constitution]].